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The answer varies based on (1) the type of hair loss, and (2) the type of birth control. Some (but not all) forms of birth control may contribute to hair loss. If you have any medical questions or concerns, please talk to your healthcare provider. The articles on Health Guide are underpinned by peer-reviewed research and information drawn from medical societies and governmental agencies.
Hair loss recovery after stopping birth control – what treatments are there?
If you’re losing hair on progestin-only birth control, try switching to options with more estrogen or combined pills with lower androgen levels. While most people may think that hair loss and baldness only affect men, women actually make up about 40% of all hair-loss treatment candidates. For most women, their hair is hugely impactful to their self-esteem and confidence. Experiencing hair loss as a woman can be incredibly distressing. About 15% of all hair restoration surgeries are performed on women.
Other Side Effects
Hair will grow back and will return to its pre-baby thickness after a few months, but contact your doctor if your hair continues to thin. However, if your hair loss is due to androgenic hair loss, which is influenced by the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the effects might be more persistent. This form of hair loss is often linked to genetics and results in a gradual thinning of hair over time.
Can Stopping Birth Control Cause Hair Loss?
Because patients may have long waits to see specialists, primary care providers can perform the appropriate laboratory work and evaluation while the patient awaits the initial appointment with a specialist. In some cases, the hair loss may resolve based on the primary care provider's recommendations, eliminating the need for a referral. Ruling out other causes of hair loss, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) or thyroid disorders, may lead to an earlier diagnosis, reduced patient anxiety, and increased patient confidence.
Although this may make you nervous about trying birth control, there are some hormonal methods less likely to cause hair loss than others. Interestingly, it’s worth pointing out that some birth control pills are actually prescribed for hair loss (Williams, 2021). If you're dealing with hair loss from birth control that hasn't yet been resolved on its own, there are a variety of things you can try that may help your hair grow back faster. Always consult a health care provider before trying any treatment options (including over-the-counter products) to ensure it's the best approach for you.
EFFECTS OF HORMONAL CONTRACEPTIVES
In fact, both Dr. Lincoln and Dr. Day note that birth control can actually be used to curb excessive hair growth, particularly facial hair for those suffering from PCOS. We're sensitive about our strands, and should there be an issue with our locks, we are determined to get to the root of the problem—no pun intended. Everlywell offers health and wellness solutions including laboratory testing for wellness monitoring, informational and educational use. With the exception of certain diagnostic test panels, list available here, the tests we offer access to are not intended to diagnose or treat disease. None of our tests are intended to be a substitute for seeking professional medical advice, help, diagnosis, or treatment.
How does stress affect hair?
While both hormonal and non-hormonal contraceptives are used by many, the hormonal type — taken either orally or via injections, a vaginal ring, patch, or an intrauterine device (IUD) — carries a risk of hair loss. Non-hormonal birth control methods, such as condoms and copper IUDs, do not carry the risk of hair loss. These are good options if you want to avoid this issue completely. Birth control pills with low androgenic activity are the least likely to cause hair loss. These include pills containing progestins like norgestimate, norethindrone, desogestrel, or ethynodiol diacetate. Because these progestins have a low-androgen index, they are less likely to increase androgenic activity, reducing the risk of hair loss.
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However, everyone responds to hormones differently, especially sex hormones called androgens. Hair health and growth are linked to androgens, and sensitivities to changes in these hormones could impact hair. Medication, medical issues, stress, and the postpartum period following childbirth can also affect androgen levels (Gordon, 2011; Hoover, 2021). Hair loss (alopecia) can be a side effect of hormonal birth control.
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Progestin is the hormone found in birth control that's typically to blame for hair loss, whether a person is starting or stopping birth control, adds Dr. Shepherd. In some cases, starting the birth control pill can trigger hair loss in women who are sensitive to hormonal fluctuations, especially fluctuations of androgens. Women who do not have any problems with alopecia or hair loss can experience some hair loss when first starting the pill, or if they are on the pill for a period of time and then stop taking the pill. If you’re of reproductive age and on hormonal birth control, you may notice an increase in hair loss. Switching to a low-androgen birth control method may stop hair loss caused by progestin-based contraceptives. Oral contraceptives that are low on the androgen index have higher estrogen levels.
Some hormonal birth control may (1) increase temporary hair loss when starting/stopping treatment, and (2) accelerate hair loss in women at-risk of female pattern hair loss. Read on to educate yourself on which options might be better for your unique biology, and why. The American Hair Loss Association (ALHA) recognizes that for the most part oral contraceptives are a safe and effective form of birth control. It also recognizes that the Pill has been clinically proven to have other health benefits for some women who use them.
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If progestins have been shown to have some negative effects, such as hair loss, why wouldn’t birth control pills be made of just estrogen? The answer is that if estrogen is not balanced by progesterone, serious conditions can result. Estrogen causes the cells that line the uterus, the endometrium, to grow, but progesterone stabilizes the endometrium. In some cases, the birth control pill can trigger hair loss in women who are sensitive to hormonal fluctuations.
This changes the hormone levels and alters the hair cycle, especially the telogen phase. The AHLA recommends that all women interested in using oral contraceptives for the prevention of conception should only use low-androgen index birth control pills. Pills with the least androgenic activity include norgestimate (in Ortho-Cyclen, Ortho Tri-Cyclen), norethindrone (in Ovcon 35), desogestrel (in Mircette), or ethynodiol diacetate (in Demulen, Zovia). If there is a strong predisposition for genetic hair loss in your family, the AHLA recommends the use of another non-hormonal form of birth control.
Since the "pill" was approved by the FDA in 1960, oral contraceptives have become one of the most popular forms of birth control used today. Again, this aligns with observations during mid-to-late pregnancy when the protective effects of estrogen kick in, the hair growth cycle elongates, and hair counts increase (temporarily). Many oral contraceptives contain synthetic progesterone to help stop ovulation. Interestingly, synthetic progesterone is made from the male hormone testosterone. She also suggests looking into platelet-rich plasma treatment (PRP), a non-surgical method that utilizes your blood and isolates the platelet-rich-plasma portion of it. Meanwhile, Spironolactone can slow down the production of androgens like dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is responsible for male- and female-pattern baldness.
However, it is not yet clear whether it is possible to reverse hair loss due to smoking. Currently, no studies suggest that hair loss improves after stopping smoking, so further research is still necessary. If at any time in the evaluation of the patient, the diagnosis or potential causes of alopecia are unclear, prompt referral to dermatology is appropriate. You can talk to your doctor or healthcare professional to find out which nonhormonal option could work best for you.