Oral Contraceptives and Hair Loss

The most popular and widely used birth control is the oral contraceptives or commonly known as the birth control pills. Since its introduction to the market and to the public in 1960, the pill has achieved credibility as an effective birth control method.  

The pill works really simple but efficient when it suppress female ovulation.


Progestin and estrogen are the two major components of oral contraceptives that make the female ovulation stop during the time a woman is taking the pills. Millions of women who use pill for birth control find it effective and user-friendly. However, while the pill is an efficient birth control method and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the pill is greatly linked to hair loss issues among women. In fact, hair loss in women is one of the major known side effects of taking birth control pills especially during the earlier stage of intake even after several months after a woman stopped taking pills. Ironically, the pill is also a medically approved prescription for any female pattern baldness medically known as the androgenetic alopecia. How is this so possible? 

American Hair Loss Association or AHLA believes that the pill has proven effective in birth control issues among women. However, AHLA also wants to make it clear that the use of pill involves extreme scrutinizing on the part of women who would like to use it for it may bring several problems, to which hair loss is included. Hence, while pills can be bought over the counter, it is also highly recommended that women who are interested to use birth control pills to discuss their plans with a medical provider in order for them to be educated on the pros and cons of using pills.  

Understanding the kinds of pills available, women may benefit much from these small oral contraceptives and may prevent the occurrence of hair loss in women. It is also important to understand that there are women who are hypertensive to any possible hormonal imbalance or changes thus may create reaction to pills intake. Therefore, if your body reacts to any estrogen progestin intake, you may expect the possibility of experiencing hair loss results when you take oral contraceptives. Another factor that may contribute to hair loss in women is family heredity issues. Given these important facts, the more it is recommended that you get to know the kinds of contraceptives that you are about to take for you to prevent possible hair loss consequences: 

•  Progestin implants are those that are surgically implanted under the skin. These implants release progestin continuously and prevent female ovulation. One sample of progestin implant is the Norplant which is usually implanted on the upper part of the female arm. 
•  Progestin injection is a hormone injected on the buttocks or upper part of the arm. An example of which is the Depo-Provera injection.
• Ortho Evra is an example of the skin patch birth control. This is not injected but is patched effectively on a woman’s buttocks and shoulder. 
•  NuvaRing or the vaginal ring, a birth control flexible ring that is inserted to a woman’s vagina. This 2 inches diameter ring releases estrogen and progestin.