What do your bones, your hair and your hormones have to do with each other?
As it turns out, quite a lot.
Changes in bone density, hair thinning and shifts in how we feel through our 30s, 40s and beyond can sometimes seem like completely separate concerns. But our hormones connect more of these dots than we might realise.
In this episode of Fiercely Well, I’m joined by A/Prof Niloufar “Nellie” Torkamani, endocrinologist, physician and Associate Professor of Endocrinology at the University of Melbourne, for a conversation about bones, hormones, hair and what women can do now to support healthy ageing.
We start with bone health, and particularly what happens to our bones as oestrogen begins to change through perimenopause and menopause.
Nellie explains why bone loss can accelerate around menopause, who may benefit from having a bone density scan, and why family history, early menopause, primary ovarian insufficiency, surgical menopause and some medications can all be important pieces of the picture. We also explore why osteoporosis is not something we should only start thinking about later in life.
We talk about the role of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) in bone health for eligible women, including Nellie’s experience of seeing improvements in bone density with treatment. We also discuss bone turnover markers, and how they can give clinicians another way of understanding what is happening with bone loss and bone formation between bone density scans.
But bone health is not only about what happens during menopause.
Nellie takes us back to the foundations we can build much earlier in life, including weight-bearing exercise, vitamin D, getting enough calcium through our diet and paying attention when periods become irregular or disappear. We also have a really practical conversation about supplements, including why Nellie prefers calcium to come from food unless there is a clinical reason to supplement.
Then we move from bones to hair, something that can feel deeply personal for so many women.
Nellie completed her PhD investigating female pattern hormonal hair loss, and she takes us into the fascinating science of the hair follicle and the role oestrogen can play in our scalp and hair.
We explore why hair thinning and female hair loss can sometimes appear during perimenopause, even while periods remain regular, and why changes in our hair may be worth looking at as part of the bigger hormonal picture rather than simply assuming they are due to stress or ageing.
It is a conversation that really brings home something I believe strongly about women’s health. The changes we notice in our bodies are often more connected than they first appear. Our hormones, bones, hair, metabolic health, heart health and the stage of life we are in can all intersect.
Understanding those connections gives us an opportunity to ask better questions earlier and make informed decisions about what our bodies might need next.
In this episode, we explore:
How perimenopause and menopause can affect bone health
The relationship between oestrogen, bone density and osteoporosis
When a bone density scan may be worth discussing with your doctor
Why family history can be an important osteoporosis risk factor
The role of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) in supporting bone health for eligible women
How bone turnover markers can help clinicians assess bone loss and treatment
Why early menopause, primary ovarian insufficiency and surgical menopause need particular attention
The foundations of healthy bones, including weight-bearing exercise, vitamin D and dietary calcium
Nellie’s perspective on calcium and vitamin D supplementation
How perimenopause and hormonal changes can affect hair
The science behind female pattern hormonal hair loss
Why hair thinning may sometimes be an early clue that hormones are changing
What women can think about in their 20s, 30s, 40s and beyond to support bone health and healthy ageing.
One of the things I loved about this conversation is Nellie’s reminder that women’s health is about far more than our reproductive organs.
And we do not necessarily need to wait until something becomes a problem before we start paying attention.
The more we understand about the changes happening through perimenopause, menopause and beyond, the better placed we are to have thoughtful conversations about our individual risks, our options and what supporting our future health might look like.
About A/Prof Niloufar “Nellie” Torkamani
A/Prof Niloufar “Nellie” Torkamani is an Endocrinologist and Physician with a special interest in women’s health, metabolic health, healthy ageing and hair loss.
She is an Associate Professor of Endocrinology at the University of Melbourne and has held senior clinical and leadership roles in endocrinology and weight management. Her clinical and academic work focuses on helping people navigate complex hormonal and metabolic changes across different stages of life, with a particular interest in the health of women through midlife and beyond.
Nellie completed her specialist training in Endocrinology and General Medicine in Melbourne, followed by a PhD at the University of Melbourne investigating the biology of androgenetic alopecia. Her research has explored the role of hormones and the hair follicle, including the role of the arrector pili muscle and its hormone receptors in hair loss. Her research has been published in leading international medical journals, including the British Journal of Dermatology and Diabetes Care.
Alongside her clinical and academic work, Nellie is passionate about translating medical research into accessible, evidence-informed care. She is the founder of Hairevive, a specialist medical hair-loss service designed to provide personalised assessment and treatment for women and men experiencing hair thinning and hair loss.
Her broader clinical interests include women’s hormonal health, perimenopause and menopause, obesity and weight management, diabetes, PCOS, metabolic health and longevity.
At the heart of Nellie’s work is helping people better understand the hormonal and metabolic changes happening in their bodies, so they can make informed decisions about their health at every stage of life.
Listen to this episode of Fiercely Well with A/Prof Nellie Torkamani for a thoughtful conversation about hormones, perimenopause, menopause, bone health, osteoporosis, female hair loss and healthy ageing.
References:
Website: https://drtorkamani.com.au/
Hairevive: https://hairevive.com.au/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/niloufar-torkamani-95bb70b5/
