Hair Loss & Birth Control

[iwonder]

I am wondering about hair loss and birth control! I was on OTC a few years ago and loved it... it cleared up my skin and had no weird side-effects. But when the Planned Parenthood I went through stopped carrying it, they switched me to OTC-Lo, which was a disaster. I stayed on it for a year, however, hoping it would improve, and then switched to Ortho Novum 1/35. Ortho Novum was HORRIBLE -- made my skin break out terribly and my hair started falling out. So then I decided I needed to switch back to OTC no matter what, so decided to just get it through a pharmacy. They suggested I go with Tri Sprintec, the generic version of OTC. I just finished my first pack of this pill. My hair loss got MUCH worse during the last week of pills, slowed down during the first few days without pills, and now seems to be starting up a little again (i am two days from starting a new pack of pills. Doctors keep telling me it must be my imagination because "BC doesn't make hair fall out," and the one doctor who did listen to me admits she hasn't got a clue what i should do, so I'm feeling a bit frustrated! Does anyone have any suggestions for me -- does this sound like it might be better NOT to start the new pack of pills and just go off BC once and for all, or will that likely make it much much worse? Should I just give my body more time to see if it will get better as I get used tot he Tri Sprintec? I'm starting to panic because I don't want to lose much more hair! It is already noticeably thinner! I have also had some scalp itching... no redness or anything, just itching... don't know if that tells you anything. Also I've seen some suggestions about trying women's rogaine, but I'm afraid that will only be a temporary fix that will eventually only make myproblem worse. Would that be an idea to prevent further hair loss until I can figure something else out or is it truly a bad idea to start with it? Any ideas would be immensely helpful!

 

[Sunflower222]

I'm curious about BC and hair loss comments as well. I'm currently on OTC Lo and I've noticed my hair thinning more and more... I'm wondering if it could be from the BC but then again I have heard on some websites that going off BCP can also make women lose hair so I don't know what to do either, stay on them or go off them altogether. Can anyone offer any advice or comments about this for us?

 

[fullglasseyes]

I had been using ortho tricycline for several months with fairly few side effects. Then i found out i had ovarian cysts, and my doctor switched me to ortho novum. About 3 months later, my hair started thinning excessively. I also developed painful and large pimples. My doctor insists that the pill isnt causing this hair loss, but i know better. I have had tons of blood work done and there is nothing wrong with me. If bcps do not cause hair loss, then why is it listed under side effets in the info they give you with the pills? I cannot stop taking the pills because i am using them to treat my cysts, but i am hoping to find a good doctor who is willing to work with me and accept the fact that my hair loss is caused by the pill i am taking!
I am only 24 and my hair has always been very thick and curly. I can only hope the hair loss will stop because it is making me very upset, which isnt helping.

 

[IBM]

phytoestrogens might be the solution.