Hair Loss Caused By Contraceptive Implants
Birth control methods have different side effects on different people. Whereas some people can have fuller, healthier, and shinier hair, others can experience dullness in hair or even hair loss. It is impossible to say that contraceptive implants absolutely cause hair loss, however it is also impossible to say they do not. So it is important to keep in mind that any kind of birth control can cause any type of side effect. Some people are more sensitive to hormonal changes, which is exactly what birth contraceptive implants do. People who have weak hair or other hair related problems are more prone to hair loss than others. It is always important to remember that there is no definite side effect with medications that affect hormones. Some people may experience little to no side effects at all, whereas others can come to the point where they have to quit.
One Extreme Side Effect That Some Birth Control Pills Can Cause
In exchange for the initial, temporary headaches and nausea, we are offered shorter, lighter menstrual periods, larger breasts, clearer skin, and of course, protection from getting pregnant in exchange for using the birth control pill. When taken correctly, the pill is over 99% effective in preventing pregnancy. And although highly encouraged to not smoke , and to use other forms of protection against sexually transmitted diseases , doctors rarely, if ever, discuss with their patients the long list of other potential side effects. Its only upon further investigation through reading the microscopic print on the pills packet insert or online reviews that one comes across the lengthy breakdown. They may not be as common, but these side effects can still effect you.
Changes In Vaginal Discharge
The consistency of your discharge can change while taking birth control. This is because progestins cause your vaginal secretions to become thicker to help make it difficult for sperm to move. As mentioned above, this is one way progestins help prevent pregnancy.
Your discharge can also have a light brown color. Even when youre not taking birth control, healthy discharge can be this color, particularly on the days surrounding your period. If you are experiencing breakthrough bleeding while on birth control, you might notice light brown discharge as well.
These instances are caused by blood mixing together with your discharge. If this becomes uncomfortable or bothersome, speak to your provider to see what options are available to lessen this side effect.
However, its important to be aware of what abnormaldischarge may look like. If you notice any discharge that looks like cottage cheese, is yellow-green, or smells fishy, let your provider know right away. This is never normal and may be a sign of an infection that needs to be treated with medication.
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Why You May Experience Hair Loss After Going Off Birth Control
Hair loss of all kinds is a very common concern for many women. It’s a very tricky topic as there are several kinds of hair loss, which are all influenced by a variety of factors. One such factor is birth control, yes.
“One kind of hair loss that can be experienced after stopping OCP is telogen effluvium. Telogen effluvium is a kind of hair loss that takes place after a person undergoes a stress to the body or mind,” says King, noting that this can range from physical injury, personal problems, and, yes, hormonal changes. “Abrupt hormonal changelike after childbirth or stopping an oral contraceptiveis one form of physical stress.”
The good news is that this form of hair loss is temporary, too.
“Hairs are usually found in all different stages of the hair cycle, but after this stress, a larger percentage of hairs than usual become synchronized, and so when it is time for them to fall out, many more hairs than normal fall out,” she says. “This happens usually approximately two to four months after the stress. The good news is that this kind of hair loss is reversibleit does grow back!”
Yaz Birth Control Pill And Hair Loss
William Rassman, M.D.3 Drugs Female Hair Loss
This site is a great resource! I see that you have answered questions before about Ortho Evra and hair loss, and depression and hair loss. I wanted to know if Yaz can also cause hair loss and depression/mood swings? My doctor already ruled out thyroid or other conditions as a possible cause. I´m trying to figure out what is causing what.
Thank you!
I would suspect that regardless of the dose of the oral contraceptive, if a woman has a genetic predisposition for hair loss, then the medication would serve to increase the loss. Some medications may have more of an effect than others. On the other hand, Yaz claims to help with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder , thus decreasing the chance of emotional and/or physical stress which can exacerbate hair loss. As with many medications, there needs to be a balancing act with regards to intended use and benefits versus side effects. With that being said, Yaz is known to cause scalp hair loss as a rare side effect see Drugs.com.
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What Are The Most Common Side Effects Of Birth Control
Changes to your menstrual period heavier or lighter monthly bleeding, breakthrough bleeding, or no bleeding can occur while taking birth control.
Breakthrough bleeding is the most common type of irregular bleeding. Up to 50% of people who take combined oral birth control pills those containing both estrogen and progestin experience this when they first start taking them.
Other common side effects of birth control include:
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Headaches
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Nausea
Does Birth Control Affect Your Skin & Hair Maybe
Now, this isn’t to say you’re guaranteed to deal with either of these when you wean yourself off birth control. And perhaps the reason these concerns get brought up more often is because people tend not to flag non-concerns. You’re likely not going to complain about your skin and hair if nothing has changed over the course of going off birth control, right?
However, there are valid reasons people may experience either of these according to dermatologists. But, again, derms also note that this is a tricky area in which no one’s experience is the same as the rest.
“It’s complicated because hormonal birth control comes in many forms and contains different types and levels of hormones. And even the same formulation may affect different people differently,” says board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, M.D.
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How Does Birth Control Pill Cause Hair Loss
Most pills contain progestin as one of the components. This component is the main reason for hair loss.
Because progestin is an artificial hormone, it acts like an androgenic, which is a similar hormone to men. Because of progestin, there can be severe side effects to the body, and hair loss is one of them.
Women who are sensitive to any changes in the hormone, tend to experience hair loss by taking these birth control pills.
People with a family history of hair loss should not take birth pills as it might instigate hair loss in them as well. Therefore, there are few non-hormonal birth control ways that one can have, without the risk of losing their hair.
Once you take the birth control pills, your hair growing phase will go into the resting stage sooner than expected or the resting phase stays for too long. This phase produces thin and weak here which fall out immediately. This can lead to baldness as well.
Identify the early signs of balding here to stop it in time!
Moreover, if hair loss is genetic in your family, taking birth pills will increase the chances of hair loss.
Hormonal birth control creates androgenic activity in the body which can worsen hair loss in women. Even if injecting hormones, getting skin patches, progestin implants or even vaginal rings can cause the process of hair loss to exacerbate.
The Link Between Birth Control & Hair Loss
First, heres a little background on how birth control pills work. The pill uses a combination of synthetic female hormones to prevent ovulation and greatly reduce the chances of conception. While oral contraceptives are very effective in preventing pregnancy, they do have some drawbacks.
According to the American Hair Loss Association , birth control pills can cause hair loss, especially in women who are particularly sensitive to hormonal changes. Additionally, birth control pills can lead to hair loss in women who have a family history of hormone-related hair loss.
So how does birth control cause hair loss? The synthetic hormones in birth control pills can interrupt your hair growth cycle. These hormones move hair follicles from their growing phase to their resting phase . As a result, the scalp sheds more hair than normal. This type of hair loss is called telogen effluvium.
Women who do have birth control hair loss may notice it at different times. Some women see hair loss when they first start taking birth control. Others may have it when they stop taking the pill. And others could see it when they switch between different types of birth control pills.
Most of the time, birth control-related hair loss is not too severe. But of course, as we all know, even a little hair loss can feel traumatizing when it happens to us! So keep reading to learn about your options for birth control hair loss recovery.
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What Women Are At
Many women are sensitive to the hormones contained in the pill and-or have a strong family history of hormone-related hair loss. Other factors such as poor diet, poor sleep, other medications, significant stress, illness, surgery, etc. can also affect hair follicle function. Hormonal changes and other risk factors can cause sudden hair loss as well as accelerate hereditary hair loss.
Can Birth Control Change Your Hair
Birth control pills can trigger hair loss in most women. Those with sensitivity to hormonal fluctuations are prone to experience shedding once they start using the pills. Even those who do not have problems with hair loss or alopecia will notice some thinning when they are starting or have stopped taking the pills. This is not typically permanent, but those with hormonal issues should be aware of the risk that comes with the pill.
Due to various triggers and factors, your hair may take a while to regrow and become voluminous once again. Some women even consider getting permanent hair extensions due to this condition. If you are worried about the changes happening to your hair, you may consult your doctor for medications or methods that will help you deal with the condition.
There are medications that your doctor can prescribe for you such as minoxidil and finasteride. You may also try other methods to help stimulate hair growth such as the use of mineral oils and massage.
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Birth Control Made My Hair Fall Out And Im Not The Only One
Loestrin is the best birth control Ive ever taken, but with my family history of hair loss, I never should have been on it in the first place.
The Daily Beast
I have to stop taking my birth control. I have to stop taking it, like, yesterday. I know it immediately and I hate that its true.
Ive been on Loestrin since around the time I turned 21over four years now. Its the only birth-control pill Ive ever taken and its never given me much trouble. In fact, I quite like it. My period is light and infrequent, no cramps, no weight gain, no pregnancy, no problem.
Except maybe Ive been shedding a bit more hair than I used to. A loose strand across my forearm in the morning, later one at my desk. The drain clogs in the shower every few days, and the clump of tangled brown hair is springy between my fingers. Alone, this is not much cause for concern. On average, humans lose between 50-150 scalp hairs each day. For me, its nothing so noticeable. Im certainly not going bald, and I cant seem to remember my ponytail ever being much thicker than it is now. The forums and message boards all cite waking up to loose strands on your pillow as a real indicator of significant hair loss. And so far, Ive found none there. It has been gradual, anyway. Hard to pinpoint when the shed started. Id never dyed my hair before this year, and Id like to think it was the shock of bleach and toner on a virgin scalp.
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Combination Birth Control Vs Minipill: Which Is Best
In general, hair loss caused by the pill is most often a side effect of hormonal fluctuations. In most cases, birth control causes a relative increase in androgen levels. This may cause a corresponding increase in DHT production, which researchers believe shrinks the hair follicle and causes hair miniaturization. Once this happens, the hair becomes thinner and finer over time. Eventually, it may cease to grow altogether.
Since combination birth control pills contain both progestin and estrogen, they may help to keep androgen levels in check. For this reason, physicians may recommend combination birth control medications to women whose genetics or family history makes them predisposed to hormonally induced hair loss. The minipill, on the other hand, contains no estrogen and may cause a greater relative rise in androgen. With greater fluctuation comes increased sensitivity to hormones , which may ultimately contribute to hair loss both during and after birth control use.
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What Hormone In Birth Control Causes Hair Loss
Hair growth has 3 phases, anagen, catagen, and telogen. Anagen is where the hair grows from hair follicles and stays for 2 to 7 years. Catagen is the in-between growth stage where the hair stops growing. This can be for up to 10 to 20 days. Telogen is a resting phase where the hair does not grow and loses around 30 to 100 hairs per day. This shedding process can last for 100 days.
Almost all birth control pills cause hair loss. These pills contain a hormone called Progestin. Progestin, if made synthetically, can create androgenic activity in the body. This can lead to imbalance hormones and cause hair loss. Androgens like DHT can make the Telogen phase stay for a long period which eventually causes hair fall.
Hair Loss And Stopping The Pill
Stopping the birth control pill can cause temporary hair shedding in any woman, regardless of her genetic predisposition and follicle sensitivity. Coming off of a contraceptive pill can result, although not always, in a type of post-partum shedding, which is caused by a sudden drop in oestrogen. Try not to worry though this is only short-term shedding and all the hair you lose will grow back. While your hair may start to fall out after stopping the pill or being diagnosed with PCOS, its important to remember that hair loss may not be a direct result of these. It can often be caused by different factors such as diet or stress or a combination of underlying issues.
Please note: Always consult your doctor or gynaecologist before changing, starting or stopping any contraceptive pill
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