Can the pill make your hair fall out?

[Unsureofthescore113]

So as above really. I’ve always had long thick beautiful hair and always used to have comments all of my life. But since I hit my thirties it started to fall out in clumps. I had my DS 5 years ago and I only noticed it 2 years ago. I went to the doctor back then who run every blood test you could think of and says all my levels of everything were fine and couldn’t work out what the problem was! :-(

So since then I’ve been trying to improve my stress levels, my diet, taking biotin supplements, not having hot appliances on my hair, using caffeine shampoo etc but whatever I do just gets worse and worse. Then I remember, 5 years ago my doctor switched my birth control pills to desogestrel which I think are progesterone only? And I’m wondering if there is a link?? If anyone else has experienced this I think I’ll stop taking them as I seriously am losing more than 100 hairs every time I wash it :-(

If it contains noresthisterone then yes, it can.

It can so given the doctor has ruled out other causes in your situation I would stop the pill. Bear in mind it might take some time for the shedding to stop.
I lost some hair in my early 20s, stopped the pill + changed diet + supplements and it grew back. I cut it shorter and wore a hat for a year.
There is a brilliant clinic in London that helps women with hair loss, I didn't end up needing much help from them but they were so lovely and helpful and nice to know there are options for if it got worse - name is Lucinda Ellery.

I think it can,it's the hormones, i am having terrible hairloss, i believe due to Norethisterone in my HRT
I have stopped it now and having steroid scalp treatment, it will be the progesterone as pp said
Go back to your GP and ask what the progesterone is,he might be able to give you a different type,but will probably say it isn't

I changed to different HRT as the norethisterone in the first one I had made my hair fall out alarmingly.

@Unsureofthescore113 - I’ve been on the combined pill Marvelon which also contains desogestrel for the last 6 years, I thought I was doing fine on it but my hair has been coming out a lot when I wash, dry and brush it for the last 3 months. I’ve also been getting headaches in the pill free week. I have a thyroid problem so thought it was down to that but my doctor has said my thyroid is fine and that it could well be the pill. He told me to stop taking it and I stopped 2 weeks ago. I’ve not noticed it slowing down yet but I really hope it does - it’s distressing!!

Thanks all, it’s reassuring to know I’m not the only one going through this. I stopped taking it last week, partner and I agreed to look into different options for contraception now. Does anyone have any experience as to what happens next?? I’ve read that the hair loss gets even WORSE before it gets better after stopping the pill, at this rate I’ll end up bald 😥

AlexaAmbidextra has your hair improved at all, since changing your HRT? and what HRT are you on now?
My Dr says all my B12 ,iron, and Vit D levels are ok, but my folic iron is a bit low

Bit late to the party but yes- this happened to me! Hair was coming out everywhere all the time. It was so bad I kept it clipped it up on a bun and couldn't bare brushing and washing it because so much was coming out. All blood tests were normal. Stopped the pill and about 3/4 weeks later the hair fall stopped. My hair has grown back in and now I have the fuzzies where the new growth has come through. I made sure I was taking a good multivitamin and added extra gelatin. Also used a kerastase serum which has helped keep the baby hairs strong while they grow out. Lots of tlc/good diet/hair masks and it's finally looking a lot better.
Hope your hair situation is getting better!!

spottygymbag i am glad your hair is recovering,i have decided to stop HRT altogether, at least for a while to see what happens, if any hair grows back or not
I wonder if the gelatin has made a difference to yours, it will work like collagen probably
Are you taking anything now, eg;the pill again or any hormone meds?

Yes it made mine fall out like crazy! Stopped taking it and it eventually stopped. But not straight away so give it another month or so before you panic. Biotin is good for encouraging regrowth. It’s really stressful and I feel for you!

My doctor told me I had alopecia i had a massive bald patch behind my ear. I stopped taking the pill, hairloss stopped. I was on microgynon at the time.

June88 has your hair grown back since you stopped the pill,if so how long did it take?

Yeah! Came back in lovely condition. I can't remember how long it took to be honest. I'm now 16 weeks post partum and hair loss is starting again yipeeee! X

Interesting to read this, I am not on any birth control but I have been breastfeeding continuously for 5 years now (different children) after my last child I lost absolutely loads, literally clumps. I got a bald spot which totally freaked me out. After going to the Dr's I was told alopecia and that it should grow back. Over 2 years later it hasnt but the hair loss slowed to normal. I do wonder whether it could be something to do with the hormones involved with breastfeeding for so long and the depletion of my vitamin stores or something? I have read that bf for long periods can put your body into a type of menopausal state, no idea if it's true!
I hope everyone here that suffering with hair loss gets better, it's really scary isn't it.

xJune88 i am pleased to hear your hair grew back,i am losing hope,
My hair loss seemed to start with an itchy head, but i didn't realise why, but i have woken up this morning with intense itching again
I did read that it can be a sign of menopause starting, but not with me,i am well post menopause

So it’s been almost 6 weeks since I stopped taking the pill. The hair loss has slowed down a LOT but still needs to grow back. Using plantur 24 shampoo, biotin supplements and being kind to myself. Hopefully will keep improving!

Unsure i have been taking biotin for months, the hair that is still there is growin almost overnight,i have cut it 3 times and still growing fast
I am using Plantur 39 , and hair fall has just about stopped i think, but no sign of regrowth, early days yet though
Also Zinc is good for hair
Hopefully your hair will come back ok now,you have stopped the pill

Yes. Without a doubt