Does Birth Control Cause Hair Loss?

Naturally, birth control was revolutionary when it entered the scene. Birth control pills, in particular, are one method that "prevents pregnancy" by delivering hormones to the body in capsule form, per the Cleveland Clinic. "Combination birth control pills work by releasing progestin and estrogen, which prevent your ovaries from releasing an egg during your menstrual cycle, and changing the consistency of cervical mucus and the uterine lining to prevent sperm from joining with an egg," Dr. Amy Roskin, an OB-GYN and chief medical officer of Favor, a birth control prescription and delivery service, tells Forbes.

Yet, despite the freedom that birth control has offered women worldwide, it's also brought with it a number of unsavory side effects. According to American Family Physician, these include nausea, spotting between periods, headaches, weight gain, mood swings, vaginal discharge, and irregular periods. Additionally, hair loss has recently become a more common concern (via Medical News Today). However, before you begin worrying if your pill is causing hair loss, you should know that it has only been determined as a side effect of certain kinds of birth control.

To understand why hair loss can be caused by birth control, it's important first to understand that hair grows in cycles. According to Healthline, these phases begin with anagen, the "active phase" — aka the phase when the hair is continually growing. The phase following this, when hair growth stops, is known as catagen. Then, a "resting phase" known as telogen follows. This is when hair doesn't grow; instead, normal hair shredding of about 25 to 100 strands a day occurs.

Any birth control methods that rely on hormones (pills, hormone injections, skin patches, and implants) can affect this hair growth cycle, pushing hair into its resting phase too quickly — and making it stay in that phase for too long. This, then, can cause telogen effluvium, or gradual hair thinning. While gradual, one may lose quite a bit of hair from this, though, naturally, there are myriad other causes of hair loss, including faulty hair products, aging, and even not consuming enough protein.

What's more, research published in the ​​Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (JAAPA) attempts to determine which birth control methods cause this problem. It concludes that birth control pills with progestin have a stronger androgenic effect. Dr. Sophia Yen, the co-founder and CEO of Pandia Health, tells Shape, "Some progestins are more androgenic, and it seems that the more androgen effect it has, the more likely it would cause hair loss."

Apart from the type of birth control you're using, there are other reasons for hair loss caused by birth control too. Genetics could be to blame. Healthline highlights that women are more prone to losing hair while taking birth control pills — or even for a while after one stops taking it — if they have a "family history of hormone-related hair loss." The amount of hair you lose is largely determined by your genes.

Before you panic, however, just remember that losing a certain amount of hair daily is considered normal. If you feel the hair loss is excessive, don't be afraid to consult a doctor.

Dj Singh, an OB-GYN in Torrance, California, believes that excessive hair loss may be due to underlying causes which you may be ignoring. She tells Shape, "Stress, genetics, trauma, childbirth, excessive dieting, any viral illnesses — including, in current pandemic times, COVID — can contribute to hair loss." She stresses on the role of specialists like "endocrinologists, ob-gyns, dermatologists, and rheumatologists, in addition to one's primary physician, to help treat the underlying medical condition for best results."

While hormonal contraceptives are the most prevalent cause of birth control-related hair loss, a case study published in the Contraception Journal found a link between the use of an IUD and hair loss as well.

However, if it's the pill that has you most anxious, JAAPA research determines that this depends largely on the type of pill used and its ingredients. As noted above, progestin is the biggest culprit in this case because it lacks estrogen, a component that is known to counteract the inherent androgenic effects of progestin. The easiest solution to see quick results, therefore, would be to change the birth control pill you are currently on. 

The JAAPA article suggests trying a combined birth control pill with 30 micrograms of ethinyl estradiol to reduce hair loss. According to the Mayo Clinic, this number is greater than the majority of combination birth control pills, which are known to have, on average, 10 to 35 micrograms of this synthetic estrogen. One can also try other progestins that are known to have a "smaller androgenic effect," such as desogestrel, norgestimate, norelgestromin, and etonogestrel (via Shape).

If changing the pill doesn't work, you could decide to switch to hormone-free options for birth control, such as condoms and vaginal gels. There are also a number of doctor-recommended treatments, according to Medical News Today. The most basic of these is taking over-the-counter medications like Rogaine, which promotes the growth of your hair. Other external methods include using a laser cap or comb, micro-needling, or corticosteroid injections. Each of these attempts to stimulate hair follicles at the root to revitalize them and lead to better hair growth.

Simply starting a course of vitamin and mineral supplements is another method recommended by doctors to address any nutritional deficiencies that may trigger hair loss. None of these solutions may work, however, in cases where pattern baldness is the underlying cause. To treat that, you may want to consider a hair transplant or injecting platelet-rich plasma into your scalp. This would be one of the most effective forms of treatment in the long run, per Medical News Today.

Ultimately, there could be many reasons you're experiencing hair loss. Something as simple as the way you style your hair by tying it back every day in a tight bun or ponytail may be to blame. This is easily remedied, though, as your hair styling is in your hands. You could play around with leaving your hair open or cutting it short. Medical News Today offers other possible explanations for hair loss; for example, it could be due to a hormonal issue such as PCOS. Rapid weight loss due to excessive dieting or a disturbance in your system can also lead to hair fall.

Aging, certain kinds of medical treatments such as the ones for cancer, undergoing a stressful period in life, using chemical-laden products that damage your hair, or contracting a scalp infection may also cause hair loss. At the end of the day, don't be afraid to consult a specialist if your hair loss has you worried. There are plenty of solutions out there — you just need to find one that is tailor-made to your needs.