Does Birth Control Cause Hair Loss?

by Dr. Alan J. Bauman, MD, ABHRS, IAHRS, FISHRS

According to the CDC, more than 99% of sexually active women between the ages of 15 and 44 have used at least one form of birth control. For a little more than 25% of these women, oral contraceptive pill is their method of choice, with 10% using an IUD.

Similar to any medication, birth control can cause unwanted side effects. Many women complain that hair thinning, shedding, receding, as well as other hair loss symptoms and changes in hair quality occur while taking the pill. Others may notice increased hair loss when stopping the pill. For some, hair loss from birth control is a temporary side effect that is not concerning, for others it becomes the “trigger” that reveals an underlying, unwanted, distressing tendency toward thinning/shedding hair, receding hairlines/temples, and-or other hair loss issues that is known to run in the family.

More hair shed in the shower, brush or bedding, loss of hair volume, widening part-lines, receding hairlines, hair breakage, oily/dull/dry/limp/frizzy hair, and-or more scalp shining through the frontal or crown areas are all common hair loss symptoms that can be caused or exacerbated by changes in hormones related to birth control.

At Bauman Medical, each year we see a large number of women seeking evaluation and treatment who are concerned about birth control related hair loss.

If you think your hair loss symptoms might a side effect related to starting or stopping birth control, learn more about your hair loss risks and what can be done about birth control-related hair loss. Birth control pills alter your body’s natural hormone levels and this can become a problem for hair growth in patients who are sensitive to changes in hormones. The use of birth control, stopping birth control, giving birth, peri-menopause, menopause and having a hysterectomy are all associated with changes in hormone levels that may trigger or exacerbate hair loss, shedding and hair thinning in women as well as other hair quality changes.

Learn More About Birth Control & Hair Loss at BaumanMedical.com and what evaluations and treatments are recommended.