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I have noticed thinning of my hair around the crown over the past couple of months. I think I understand some or all of the contributing factors, but now I don’t know what to do to try and stop it. I had been on OrthoEvra (the patch birth control) for a few months, stopped it because it was giving me horrible anxiety, went on the Nuva Ring for the past three months, and finally decided today that the anxiety has returned as well as headaches, sleeplessness, and now hair loss. I didn’t know until I read things on this site that stopping the birth control might result in the hair loss getting worse, but I really don’t think I can continue on it because of the emotional/mood swing effects it has on me. I’m 30, and have had one child
(5+ years ago). I wonder if I can wait out the next 6 mos. while the birth control leaves my system and my hormones return to normal. I wonder if I should try Rogaine NOW, before it gets any worse (it’s really minor, but it’s starting to be noticeable enough that I try to style my hair over the thinning area or pull it back). I wonder if I should go back on birth control but I really shouldn’t do that. I wonder if this is permanent. HELP!
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Hi, thanks for writing. I always say this at the beginning of my responses to emails so that there is no misunderstanding. I am not a doctor and cannot give medical advice, this is just my thoughts and opinions.
I did some searches in Google for “Nuva Ring and hair loss” and there are several cases of women who are experiencing the same thing as you. Since it is birth control, it does alter your own hormones, and anything that does that can cause hair loss. But you should realize everyone responds differently to the effects of the pill. For some women going on the pill can cause hair loss, which seems to be your case, and for others the hair loss begins when they discontinue the use. It sounds like you already made the choice to get off the pill and are currently not taking it due to the many unpleasant side effects you were experiencing. In my opinion that was definitely a good decision.
I think it is too early to tell whether or not your hair loss will simply be a temporary shedding or the onset of androgenetic alopecia. It would probably be a good idea to consult a knowledgeable physician in this matter. Experienced doctors can tell whether or not the hair follicle is miniturizing which is usually an indication of female pattern baldness. But it is very possible this will just be a temporary shedding (telogen effluvium) similar to the hair loss many women experience after having a baby. As mentioned in my response to Sarah’s story, I actually met a woman who had hair loss from going on the pill, she stopped taking it an told me eventually all her hair grew back. It all depends on the individual.
I found a thread on a health forum that dates back from 2005, all the way to the last entry which was April 2007. All the women seem to be complaining of experiencing hair loss while on the Nuva Ring also with a plethora of other side effects. No one seems to have provided an update on their situation, which may very well mean that their hair grew back and they simply had no more reason to discuss it. It may be worth it to try and contact a few of those women on the board since their situations were so similar to yours. Perhaps they can provide even greater insight. The link is: http://ehealthforum.com/health/topic40802.html
If I were in your place, I would wait on taking Rogaine so that I could see if my hair would improve on it’s own. Rogaine is something that has to continue to be used basically forever to continue to maintain any benefits it provides. The information from drugs.com states “If treatment is discontinued, new hair growth will usually be shed within a few months.” Before I would start a treatment regimen I would give it some time to ensure you actually need treatment. This is just my opinion, you have to do what you feel is best for you. It becomes incredibly frustrating because hair growth is such a slow process, but I’m pretty hopeful that your situation may improve on its own with time. Does your family have a history of androgenetic alopecia (male/female pattern hair loss) ?
Please keep us updated!
~Y
Technorati Tags: birth control, hair loss, nuva ring, OrthoEvra, rogaine
{ 50 comments… read them below or add one }
mls 11.13.07 at 10:25 am
I just wanted to comment since I’m the one who wrote this original post. It’s been a little over a month now since I stopped using the Nuva Ring, and while some of the emotional side effects of it have begun to subside, I am still experiencing hair loss - probably more than I had when I was on it. I’m still convinced that the Nuva Ring is what caused it in the first place, and I’m still hopeful that after some more time has passed, I’ll notice it slowing - but I’m very nervous. I pull about 5-10 strands out each morning, and notice it on my clothes and things. It’s thinning mainly on the top of my head, but I try to comb it in certain ways or just pull it back - my hair is very long, I don’t know if that’s good or bad in this situation. I notice short pieces on hair on the top of my head, and I don’t know if that’s old hair breaking off or new hair growing in - when hair falls out, doesn’t it fall out right from the root, or is this breakage common? I’m taking some vitamins and trying to stay healthy in other ways. I’m feeling helpless, though - at what point do I decide that this is not reversing itself, and begin trying some other treatment? It’s really making me sad sometimes, when I think about it, since I’ve always had really long, curly hair, and I can’t imagine what it would be like to lose it all. It’s frightening, and I’m sure the stress I’m feeling from this, as well as some other aspects of my life, aren’t helping.
Sarah 11.13.07 at 5:34 pm
Hello, i totally know what you mean, i am in the same position.
I had decided to go off birth control ( my post - sarah’s story) in June because of hair loss… the shedding decreased primarily, but then it became really bad in october, and has not really stopped. i am still hopeful that the shedding will stop, but i am really scared that it wont. I also have seen tiny hairs at the top of my head, and i THINK it is growth, but who realy knows? is it possible to be shedding, and growing new hairs.. at the same time?! the whole thing is really something women like us shouldnt have to worry about.. it sucks, but i guess we just have to deal with it.
Some days are better than others, and other days are so bad, and i get so frustrated. anyways, i know what your feeling! good luck!
baf 12.16.07 at 9:15 pm
Hi. I have experienced hair loss from Nuva Ring as well. At first, I thought it was just breakage from having my hair colored but then more than normal amounts started coming out in the shower. Upon further inspection, I noticed that the hairs still had the root attached and it was not breakage at all. I stopped taking Nuva Ring about 3 months ago. I am now on Yaz. I am still losing hair but I don’t think quite as much as before. Our shower drain even got clogged a couple of times and we had to use Drano. I’m hoping this will end soon but I would have thought 3 months would be long enough to get it out of my system.
My friend had a Norplant about 7 years ago and she lost almost all of her hair. She wore wigs and then eventually got extensions. She said once it was removed, she immediately started to see new hair growth.
Tobi 12.30.07 at 3:17 pm
Hi—there is a product called Bumble & Bumble Hair Powder that comes in different colors—I use black for my dark hair—and it will hide a lot of the thinning and also lifts the roots so the thinning is not as noticeable…i am in the same boat as you all and since I’ve been using this product (my hairdresser recommended it), it has changed my life.
baf 05.14.08 at 3:01 pm
Well, it took about 6 months but my hair FINALLY stopped falling out after I stopped using Nuvaring. I went on Yaz and haven’t had any hair loss problems since. I also took fish oil and evening primrose oil to stimulate my hair follicles. Whatever it was it worked!
admin 05.14.08 at 3:04 pm
Hi Baf, Thanks for posting back your update and wonderful success, I’m so happy for you!!
~Y
Stacey 06.13.08 at 12:11 pm
Hello, I too am going through the same scary situation. I went off ortho evra patch 3 months ago after being on it for 5 years. I started noticing 2 months ago all this hair in the shower and sink. I’m afraid to even comb my hair due to the fact that it just keeps coming out. My doctor just recently ordered blood work. But I know that it is due to going off the patch. Will this eventually stop or will I continue to lose my hair until I am bald.
Christon 07.09.08 at 9:20 am
I’m 19 years old and I had a baby a year ago. I was using nuvaring but I stop using it in December and every since than my hair has been falling out like crazy. It was never doing that before and now it is. I don’t know if nuvaring is the cause but I’m really frustrated over this. I have never experience this problem with my hair EVER! I wonder because I stop using the nuvaring could it have cause this problem. Can someone please HELP me because I’m so desperate right now. My last resort is to cut all my hair off, and it’s very long. It still is long but my pony tail just keeps getting thinner and thinner every single week!
pixy 07.10.08 at 10:48 am
I’m 21 and I’ve been on the nuvaring for about 2 months, and just like you guys, I’ve been noticing big clumps falling out in the shower. I’ve decided to stop using it, and I can only hope that the situation will get better and not worse (it seems that either can happen when stopping BC?) I’m so upset but it helps to know that I’m not the only one. Good luck ladies!!! I’ll post again if I notice any change… (it doesn’t help that my doc thinks this the connection between the ring and my hair suddenly falling out is “unlikely”– but i know that the nuvaring started this because the hair loss started just a few weeks after!!) peace and love
Karen 08.05.08 at 12:46 pm
I am 32 yrs. old and have 3 children. After weaning my 3rd son when he was 12 mo., I started using the nuva ring. My OB told me that it would work well for me because it is a continuous dose of hormones that does not fluctuate during the month.(like triphasil) I only used it for 2 or 3 months and noticed that it was causing headaches and mild depression. I did NOT lose any hair while using it, but about a month after stopping my hair started shedding. It is not too bad–not like after my babies were born. I have noticed that the hair coming out has a white tip on the end. That means that it is coming out by the root and that a new one is coming up behind it.
I experienced this after having my children and it is only temporary. Your hair should grow back-don’t stress!
Kelly 08.19.08 at 9:12 am
I am 25 years old and was on the Nuva Ring for a little over 2 years. I experienced several side effects including digestive problems and gall bladder disease. I ended up having my gall bladder removed a year ago. My doctors never attributed those problems with the ring but they disappeared after I stopped using it. I have been off the ring for a little over a month now and I have noticed a dramatic increase in hair loss. I have very fine hair to begin with and I am concerned with the amount of hair that I am loosing. I don’t know if I can wait 6 months for it to start growing back.
Bethany 08.23.08 at 5:02 pm
I’ve been on the ring since Feb/Mar, and around later this spring it felt as though my hair was thinning. I have always have VERY thick hair and I’ve been on several different pills(always looking for something better) and never had this problem. I now have gaps and a thin hair line on the top of my head and all arounf the front hairline. I took it out this week and will not continue. I only hope my hair grows back. Even it takes as long to grow back as it did to fall out, it should grow back if I go back on the pill right?
Sonya 10.28.08 at 11:04 am
I had the same problem with hair loss. For the last 8 months I have had my hair falling out each day in high numbers. I have to remove the clumps from the drain weekly. I talked with my doctor about 5 months ago about the problem but she did not say anything about the possibility of this being due to the Nuvaring. I know that I am under a lot of stress and I changed my diet, exercised more and started taking vitamins and supplements to try and stop this problem. Nothing worked. I have had serious hair loss on the top of my head and worry each day about how many I will lose. Since this isn’t something you just randomly talk about with people, I never associated the ring and hair loss since I didn’t have any problems in the first 8 months of using the ring. Mostly what I read suggested it was due to diet. I asked another doctor about possible causes and she suggested that it could be due to such a constant high dose of hormones. I have only recently switched to a lose dose birth control and hope that the problem will cease in the next 6 months as others have described. I am angry that doctors do not inform patients of this possibility and leave them to suffer silently at the side effects.
admin 10.28.08 at 2:54 pm
Hi Sonya,
Doesn’t it just make you so mad that doctors prescribe the pills, the ring, the depo provera shot without WARNING us that the possibility exists that they could make our hair fall out? I can guarantee I never would have touched the pill with a ten foot pole had I been explained that little piece of information. I am even more shocked when doctors deny the connection.
Not all hair loss from the pill is permanent, and for some women the hair loss improves after stopping it or, like you did, switching to a lower dose, hopefully lower androgen birth control.
You are not alone and I’m glad you found us!
All The Best,
Y
nattyb 11.10.08 at 6:09 pm
I to have had a problem with nuvaring and hair loss. I started the Nuraving and 2-3 months later I started to notice hair loss. After being on the ring for 5 months I took it out. It has now been 6 weeks off the ring and still major hair loss. Like everyone else I have never ever had hair problems I have always had very full hair. My pony tail is half the size it used to be. It is sooooo stressful. I have given birth and breastfeed 3 children for 12 months each and never any hair loss surley it is the RING!!!
Melia 12.01.08 at 7:45 am
Im having trouble with the nuvaring and hair loss as well, and i’m only 16 years old! My doctor said that it was unlikely that it was the nuvaring, but i’ve researched enough online to know, that isn’t necessarily true. I plan on switching to a different kind of BC, probably an IUD (i’m very forgetful…i wouldn’t remember to take the pill everyday). So i’ll update if anything changes. =(
brandy 12.27.08 at 9:03 pm
I am in the same boat as all of you. I stopped using the NuvaRing in August. All of a sudden, in about November, I noticed I was shedding like crazy. My hairdresser even asked me to have my thyroid checked. Everything came back fine. I’m not sure how long this will go on. I’m already switching from styling my hair straight to wearing it curly again. My dermatologist has put me on some steriod creams, but I really don’t know what else to do.
Bees 12.29.08 at 4:59 am
Dear Brandy
Just wondered what steroid creams your derm put you on. I have been having excessive hair loss from mid. Sept and am quite distraught about it, thinking of it all the time, my derm also put me onto an anti-inflammatory drops to rub into my scalp. I am also now wearing my hair curly, just cannot dry it straight and see all the hair fall out. I used to love washing my hair and showering, now every 2 days when I have to wash my hair I det nervous and cry when I see the hair fall away. My hair shedding could be due to a relaxer or brazilian hair straightener that I had done I January and then in September. I am busy with derms, haematologists etc, no one seems to be helping me.
KP 12.31.08 at 11:26 am
Wow, I’m sitting here in shock, because for the last 3 years I’ve had on & off again hair loss at my crown and overall shedding. When it first started it was about 3 years ago & I’ll have to check my records, but I could swear that’s when I started using the Nuvaring. But this revelation just hit me TODAY.. I’m so mad at myself. Why didnt I think of that???? A friend recommended the Nioxin shampoo/conditioner products when it first started & they worked IMMEDIATLY. So, I thought I just had a scalp problem & the shampoo corrected it. My hair stopped falling out & started to grow back. BUT, about a year later it started up again, went to the dermatologist, had all the blood work & test done and I mean ALL and everything came back normal. He said it was probably just hormones and put me on Rogain, which helped, but dried my scalp out SOOO bad that I had to stop using it. Talked to my OB and she said it was unlikely it was the nuvaring.
About 2 years ago I started suffering intense pms syptoms, anxiety, depression, but only during the 2 weeks before my period. I felt like I was going crazy because I knew some days of the month I wasnt acting or thinking rationally. That’s how the doctors figured out it was PMS or PMSD as they call it. Because it was only happening 2 weeks out of the month. Things that got me really upset today wouldnt even phase me 2 weeks from today, type of thing. I never even thought about how I didnt suffer from this until after I started birth control again. I wasnt on anything for about 5 years. So I have that gap to compare things too.
Well my OB put me on Serifem, which is a pretty name for prozac, for only 2 weeks out of the month. It did help with the PMS, but then the hair loss started up again. I knew instantly that it was the prozac. I stopped taking it immediatly. The only time I’ll take it is when the PMS is extremely bad and that’s only happened one time this year. Not sure why that month was bad, but I felt depression coming on like never before. Scared me actually, because I was afraid I’d have to keep taking the prozac. But luckily the following month(s) the pms was ok.
For about the last 6 months, Ive had the hair loss happening again and worse this time. I only have bangs in the very middle of my crown, the sides only have baby fine hair. Over all shedding as well. I know in my heart that this hair loss is hormonal. But not until today did I put everything together & realize it could be from the nuvaring. BUT I’m scared to stop using it now since people are also experiencing hair loss when they go off of it. UGGG I hate this stuff. I just dont know what to do
Wanda 01.01.09 at 2:16 pm
I noticed someone mentioned that her dermatologist had put her on some steroid meds. My dermatologist prescribed Clobetasol(liquid for the scalp) mainly because I started having a lot of burning and itching on my scalp. However, I am concerned that it may make the hair loss worse???? She told me it could “encourage” hair growth. Any opinions or experiences with Clobetasol?
Patricia 02.10.09 at 5:17 pm
I stopped using the nuvaring about 2-3 months ago and now I have very thin/shedding hair. It looks very sick and I am wondering if I should cut it a little shorter to make it appear thicker. I have read the information about a product called hair essentials and I am wondering if it really works to stop hair loss. If anyone else has information about this products please email me back.
Franci 02.18.09 at 8:24 am
I used Nuvaring for about 2 years after using many, many other froms of birth control. I started to lose my hair and it was thinning. I have had long straight, thick hair my entire life and if you saw me now you would never know that! I was feeling very self-conscious about it being noticably thinner so I started researching and researching and finally read some fine print on the actual Nuvaring box where it said that if hair loss runs in your family then Nuvaring might not be for you (my mom’s & grandmother has experienced thinning and hair loss)! Well my gyno never asked me and it never occured to her that Nuvaring might be the casue for my hairloss even when I came in complaining about my hair. We ruled out several other causes after blood tests and countless dermatologist appointments. It’s now been about 3 years since i stopped taking Nuvaring and about a year since ive been on prenatal vitamins (only thing that has worked for me). My hair has grown back a lot! I have a ton of baby hairs, BUT (this is a big but). The texture has changed. I was having to blowdry my hair everyday and it was always frizzy. One day my hairdresser said, Franci give it up, your hair texture has changed, your hair is curly now! She blow dried my hair and my surprise I had soft natural curls. I’m getting used to it now, even starting to like it a bit
but I wouldn’t wish hair loss on any woman. It’s a tough thing to deal with.
Good luck to all
Remember i didnt start to see hair grow back for a long time, hang in there!
Ms. B 03.02.09 at 12:19 pm
I started taking the NuvaRing about three months prior to my wedding and by my wedding day I lost most of the front edges of my hair. At the time I attributed it to stress and maybe the fact that I ended up wearing extensions on my wedding day. However, the front of my hair really never grew back. If it tries to go a little bit it will just suddenly fall out from the roots, and sometimes in little pieces. I have always had long beautiful hair that grew no matter what I did to it (coloring, cutting) etc. Now, I have no hair in the front and had to cut it so many times and yet it’s still falling out. So, I decided to research whether it could be the birth control, and I have found sooooo many blog/commentary sites where woman are complaining of this issue. It’s absolutely terrible that the drug manufacturer did not reveal this and neither do doctors! I will stop using it this month and I will post here in a few months to provide an update.
Mel 03.12.09 at 8:40 am
Oh Gosh! I went through this with Nuva Ring about 20 months ago. I have long hair and lost about half of it. My doctors ran EVERY test in the world becuase they didn’t think the hair loss was due to the ring. I change birth control and lately have been having problems so my doctor recommended to try the ring again - still convinced my hair loss was due to stress. I’ve been on it for 6 weeks and my hair suddenly, almost overnight, got EXTREMELY thin again. I am terrified! I ran my fingers through my hair about an hour ago and had over 25 strands in my hand. I ran to the bathroom and removed the ring forever! The hair loss lasted for MONTHS last time - I can only pray it doesn’t this time. So very sad.
andrea 04.11.09 at 11:55 am
I have been on the Nuva Ring for a few months now (I think about 4). I have never, ever had a problem with losing or shedding my hair but all of a sudden starting about a month ago my hair is coming out in large amounts!! I run my finger through my hair and can easily grab between 5-15 hairs at a time, and they have the root attached! Our drain collects little clumps of hair every time I shower, and I don’t even want to comb my hair because I know there will be a huge amount of hair on the comb or brush. I definitely noticed my ponytail getting thinner and lucky people can’t tell (yet) that my hair is thinning just by looking at it- but *I* know and cal tell! My gyno did not even warn me about this side effect. Today I decided to just remove the Nuva once and for all, even if it jacks up my menstrual cycle. Shame on Nuva Ring and shame on the doctors for not telling us about this side effect!
rosaespinas 04.25.09 at 4:44 pm
I recently, and for the first time in my life, have been experiencing hair loss too, every time i wash my hair i end up pulling out countless strands when i condition my hair. I have very fine hair, so i HAVE to wash it everyday or it appears greasy and the hair loss is noticeable. The problem started when I got my hair dyed dark brown at a salon about 2 months ago. I have dyed my hair many times in my life and never had this problem! This time, the hair dresser was very rough, he used rubber gloves which made my fine hair knot very badly, and then proceeded to rip out the knots with a comb as he put dye into each section. Im in chile, so at that time i wasnt confident in my language ability to ask him what exactly he thought he was doing. Anyway, as soon as i walked out of the salon i felt like I had half the hair I had had walking in, and immediately noticed a bald spot at the crown. Since then, hair has been coming out every day, and my drain is getting clogged. Its horrible! I never thought that the nuva ring could be part of the problem, but I am on the nuvaring as well, although I have been on and off of it but never had a problem with hairloss. Those of you who think its the nuvaring, have you dyed your hair before? Also im living in a very smoggy city, my diet has changed, and im a bit stressed. I just purchased a rather expensive JOJOBA hair mask and I think it made my hair very soft and possibly a little thicker. I plan to keep using it maybe 3 times a week. Has anybody else had success with Jojoba? Or hair masks in general?? Has anybody noticed that a haircut stopped the shedding? Am i losing these strands permenantly? AH! Good luck..
c 06.01.09 at 12:45 pm
nuva ring is evil. I was only on it for less than two months. Since then my hair has not stopped falling out…its been almost 6 months since i stopped using it. I do not feel right and am in the process of trying to figure out the cause, I am suspecting that I am hypothyroid and I think the nuvaring messed with my hormones so bad that it caused me to be all f’ed up…….oh btw when I was it I became so moody and depressed, one day I actually had the thought of suicide…NOT my personality at all, I was always a happy go lucky person…that scared me and I did a little research online and discovered how bad it was for so many people. Anyways, the hair loss has been common in a lot of women on it, and I am sure there is something else wrong with me, its just difficult without insurance to first get a doctor to see me and then get them to listen…..im trying and will let you all know. Goodluck!
Brandie 06.08.09 at 9:39 pm
My daughter started using NuvaRing 1 month ago. She has a 4 month old baby. She has lost so much hair at the front of her scalp in the last month, there is just fine baby hair there now, it goes back on each side about 3 inches. She had the thickest, coarse curly hair before. Hairloss does not run in my family or my husbands family. I decided to look up NuvaRing and I’m glad I found this site. My daugther is only 18 and there were huge clumps in the shower and in her brush daily. I have never seen so much hair fall out at once!
We will definitely be looking into an alternative birth control.
wendy 06.17.09 at 12:03 am
I have been on NuvaRing for about 7 years. I never had any bad hair loss…it mostly seemed normal. However, 6 months ago I stopped using the Ring. I was also going through a horribly stressful time in life and attributed my newly (VERY) increased hair loss to the stress. The stress faded away three months ago, but the hair loss is still in full effect. I hope that there is an end in sight to this hair loss phenomenon, because not only do I have less hair (that falls out in at least 200 - 300 strand per day amounts), but the hair I do have has become thin and lifeless.
Does anyone have any timelines for successful hair recovery/regrowth AFTER going off the Ring? I’m patiently waiting, but I may need to donate my >12 inch long hair to a good cause and go for a pixie cut to make it worth my while.
May we all eventually be blessed with full bodied, long, luxurious hair!!
chrissy 07.06.09 at 7:02 pm
I too was on the nuva ring but only for about 2 months. Since I stopped taking it (have been off all birth control) its been about 7 months. Ive noticed my hair loss to be even more lately. Stress maybe, Im not sure. I was the same as many of you, in that I thought having colored it and had extensions in, maybe my hair was just unhealthy…until my hairdresser pointed out that it was falling out from the follicle. I was tested for thyroid problems and nothing. I am wondering if it is all from the stupid evil nuva ring. When I was on it I had severe emotional reactions. Depression and anxiety like I never knew existed. Now its still causing me problems and Ive been off it for 3 times longer than I was taking it!! Are there any class action law suits against nuvaring?
Yvonne 07.20.09 at 6:39 am
I am so happy I found this site! I thought I was going crazy! I’ve been dealing with hair loss for about six months now. I thought it was stress related (the company I worked for was having a series of lay-offs). I stopped using NuvaRing in March when I got laid off. I only recently made the discovery that it could be related to birth control. . . I just started the NuvaRing again last week thinking that it would help stop it. Now I realize it may have been the culprit! I will stop using it all together now. I just started taking an omega-3 supplement as well as a hair/nails pack from GNC. I’m hoping that will help bring me back to something resembling normal. I’ve always had fine hair, but now I can see more scalp than ever.
Chrissy, in my search I did see a site (www.onlinelawyersource.com) that I think is organizing a class action.
Chris 07.29.09 at 9:28 am
I’m 35 and have been using Nuva-ring for the past 5 years, having had it recommended to me by several friends and co-workers. Rather than thinning, I have noticed in the past year that my hair is changing texture and color, becoming curlier/wavier, darker, and the new hair strands are about twice as thick as my “original” hair. Hairs on my head currently look as though they are from 2 different people, although I am happy to say the overall effect is not really noticeable. I have read this can be due to hormones and age, and although I have not had children, I suspect it may be due to age. However, it’s strange enough to send me looking for an explanation, and I wonder if Nuva-ring may have contributed to the change.
janey 08.10.09 at 2:16 am
hey all…. first of all OMG loosing hair really sucks and its good and bad to see that i am not alone. Well for the past 2 hours i have been reading all the posts and doing reaserch and i am mortified to what i have found…. i too am noticing hair loss, but i am still on the nuvaring and scared to get off of it for the fear of losing more hair but also scared of losing hair while on it….catch 22 or something…. well i also noticed that i have gotten hair in areas of my face that make me feel….unwomenly and have gone to the doctor before and got brushed off as bad genes….my mother has no unsightly hair nor does my grandmother…… BUT now i am seeing that my thinning hair and my hariniess can be due to my birth control…. I do not know what to do…… I’ve been on birth control since i was 17 i’m 23 now….. (currently i’ve been on it regularly now for 1.5 years) i really want to get off of it….but i am sexually active as well and am scared that my thinning might progress…..i still have most of my hair and it looks normal but it is no where near to the thickness i used to have…… i really need some advice……. thank you in advance!!!!!
Kellie 08.11.09 at 6:34 am
Janey,
If you want to stay on birth control, why don’t you talk to your gyno about switching to another form, like a low androgen pill? I don’t know if that will help your hair loss, but it may be a better alternative than Nuva Ring. I think some of the pills that are supposed to have a lower androgen index are Yasmin, Yaz, Ortho Tri Cyclin Low…check with your dr. on that.
I myself was on Nuva Ring for about a year and a half. For me, it never caused my current hair loss. It was caused instead by going off of birth control. Good luck to you!
Jess 08.21.09 at 5:45 pm
Hi everyone,
I was on Yaz for about 3 years & just got off of the pill a few weeks ago. For the last 3 years I have been losing hair & I just know its from the pill, no doctor can convince me otherwise. It says right on the label side effects may include scalp hair loss! Makes me feel real stupid I didnt read the fine print. And as someone mention earlier its disgusting that doctors dont mention this to us! I think BC should be banned they are not good for us in so many ways. Anyway, I told my docter I want a non-hormonal form of BC and asked what she recommends. She recommended I take NuvaRing because of its gradual release of low hormones. Thanks to all your postings I will not be using Nuva ring.
As far as my hair loss goes, since I got off Yaz my hair is falling out like crazy! My days of long beautiful curls are definately over =(
Personally, I am going to wait it out (my body is probably in shock and like after child birth it is common to lose hair) and hope for the best. I really think with time it will grow back some. Its so devastating to lose your hair but you got to think positive and be thankful to be in good health. Thats most important. Oh and one more thing, bumble & bumble thick it shampoo & conditioner work great! If any of you get off the pill and regrow hair PLEASE PLEASE come back and tell us!
Thanks and good luck to all of you! =)
D-roc 09.06.09 at 6:14 pm
I’m 21. I started taking Nuvaring in January. My first month I would wake up in the middle of the night to throw up. My second month I cried almost all the time for no reason. The third month I got nasty, thick discharge and lowering of sex drive. Everything has been pretty much dandy since then. I know the first couple months would be rough and that’s what I read from other blogs and thought it would calm down. This past month I took out my nuvaring five days late. I was then off the thing for nine days so that I could get back on my normal sunday to sunday routine. This was last week. I threw up on Sunday night and then all week I’ve had a MAJOR DECREASE in appetite. I’ve only been eating half a meal a day. I’ve been very hungry but everything seems nauseating. I started recovering from that a few days ago. So then I looked online about loss of appetite for Nuvaringers and I found prominent statistics for hair loss. Two months ago I noticed a 3 in. by 1 in. bald spot on the back of my head. I asked my gynecologist about it and she said it was stress related. Now I have WHITE, 3/4 in., thin baby hair in my bald spot. If it doesn’t grow back soon I’ll have to give it a name. I’ve noticed thinning of my scalp too. I have to clean my brush daily. I want to take the ring out. I don’t know what to do. I still have two more weeks until I can take it out. I’m considering going back to Orthotricyclen-Lo, I just couldn’t remember to take it. My boyfriend and I agree that the weight of remembering to take the pill is better than losing my hair. I’ll take anyones advice. So far on my list I’ve got Omega-3, primrose oil, nioxin shampoo, hair essentials, pre-natal vits, and bumble & bumble shampoo/conditioner.
I just don’t want it to get worse if I go off the thing. and I don’t want to lose more hair in even more obvious places. My teachers keep asking me if I’m ok because they can see that I’m losing my hair over this whole thing!!! –pun intended
DNG 09.08.09 at 11:51 pm
I used Nuvaring for 4 months. For the first 2 months, everything seemed great… it was easier than the Pill, which I’d been on for about 20 years, except for two years when I had children. In the fourth month of using Nuvaring, I started having excruciating back pain. There were a few nights during that month where I was virtually unable to move or walk. I never had back problems/pain before. I searched online for other people who might be having similar problems, I found a large number of women on Nuvaring who’d experienced terrible back pain which got better when they removed the ring. I took out the ring, and the back pain was gone within about 5-6 days. As soon as the back pain was gone, however, I noticed a bald patch on the top of my head, right above the forehead. It thought I’d noticed thinning a little for the past 2 months, but since it was summer time, I attributed it to sloppier styling and more time spent outdoors in the wind, etc. But about a week after discontinuing Nuvaring, all of a sudden it was a 1.5-inch by 1.5-inch bald spot - VERY noticeable. I really believe the bald spot and the back pain were a direct result of Nuvaring. I’m glad the back pain is gone, but I truly hope my hair comes back!!
Tristin 09.14.09 at 8:33 pm
I was on the Nuvaring for 2 months. Towards the end of the last ring I started noticing a lot of shedding in the shower. I figured it was from me lightening my roots but I noticed all of my actual hair roots attached. I am convinced it was from the Nuvaring. My hair is still coming out in wads and I have been off of it for a month. I am now on Seasonique low (I was on the reg Seasonique before the ring and never had hair loss problems). This is not normal because I am 23 with no history of female hair loss in my family. They should stop prescribing this crap.
Z 10.09.09 at 8:20 am
I started taking Nuvaring fall of 2008 then early on in the following year I started noticing my shower drain being clogged almost everyday, so I switched shampoo/conditioner. Around late January it got worse, my hair slowly began disappearing until my ponytail was the size of a sharpie. My doctors ran several tests that resulted into nothing. I knew it had to be my bc, so I stopped it, completely. I had to shave my head, it was easier to bear in the mirror for me. Ive been taking lots of vitamins especially B and Biotin shots and its been going well. Its almost been 8 months but I’m slowly getting my hair back, not as thick as before, more like baby hair texture wise, but its nice to see my hair follicles are still alive =]. I’m still very optomistic about getting my full head of hair back someday hopefully. I’ve been wearing wigs to work and school, its restored my confidence and gave me a boost of self esteem.
Btw, I’m only 21 yrs old.
Tristin 10.16.09 at 5:08 pm
I also have hair loss from the Nuva ring. I have been reading a lot that it is caused by birth control with high levels of androgen (male hormones). This website explains more. I am going to call my gyno tomorrow and see if I can get switched over immediately. I’m on Seasonique Lo right now and its also high androgen with low estrogen.
http://www.womenshairlossproject.com/category/birth-control-pills/
Kristin 11.29.09 at 4:12 pm
Hi ladies,
I was on Yaz for over 2 years and never had any side effects, other then Melasma, I have a brown spot under my eye but I am full of freckles so it doesn’t bother me too bad. I loved Yaz but my insurance didnt cover it at my out of pocket was $80 a month. So I switched to Reclipsen and within a few weeks I started loosing so much hair. Now I am just waiting for the point where it will be noticable to others..you can see alot of my scalp if I pull my hair up. I thought it was the Reclipsen causing the hairloss and now after doing some research there are alot of women stating that when they stopped using Yaz is when they had massive amounts of hairloss. I plan on going back on the Yaz since I would rather pay the $80 a month then have my hair gone or spend hundreds on hair growth products.
Claire 12.17.09 at 10:54 am
I have been lurking on this site for about a month. This nightmare started for me I believe back in July. I had taken Plan B Emergency contraceptives twice in one month. Before this I had never experienced any hair loss at all. My hair was thick and half way down my back. I am 41 years old. I also had a tetnus shot and was eating poorly for quite some months and dyed my hair regularly. I also had a Ferritin level of 7. But I believe that the culprit that started this nightmare was the Plan B and was spurred on my extremely low ferritin level.
By mid-September I noticed lots of hair tumbleweed flying around my house and lots of hair in brushes but chalked it up to not cleaning my house and brushes enough. I had just started dating a new guy and was preoccupied. By mid October I felt my hair was thinner. By November 1st I went to my family doctor. She said it will stop and sent me to a dermatologist “to make me feel better”. The dermatologist basically said you have AGA, suck it up and here’s some Minoxidil. I went to another dermatologist who has said it’s TE, most likely caused by my low Ferritin level or stress, she doesn’t seemed at all convinced that it could be the Plan B (I haven’t been on BC since my early twenties. She also gave me Iron pills and told me to take (300 mg 3 x a day and 1000 mcg of Biotin 2 x a day) and again to use the Minoxidil. I used the Minoxidil for 2 weeks and the shedding became worse. I lose at least 200 - 300 hairs per day. I stopped using the Minoxidil two weeks ago. My head also became very itchy and sore.
I have since gone back to see her and she has again told me it is TE, not sure what the trigger was and should ‘taper off soon’. I asked about Aldactone and she said that it wasn’t for this type of hair loss and that I need time for my body and hair to ‘reset’ itself. I have lost at least 50% of my hair. It is now noticable. I keep my hair up and have since cut it off to my shoulder so I don’t notice the hair all over my clothing, my sink, my floor, falling on my arms, etc. I obsess about it all day long. She has also prescribed Retin-A. Has anyone else tried this?
I am considering doing nothing but to keep taking my iron and biotin and eating well and trying not to obsess and let my body adjust itself but I am afraid if I do nothing it will get worse and not better. If it was the Plan B will my hormones adjust themselves or will I need to take something to make them right again?
MiaFlores 12.18.09 at 10:44 am
In *theory* if it’s only the PlanB, then yes, your body should right itself as your hormones even out. Also, in theory, if your TE was only caused by the PlanB experience, you still might experience major shed for 4 or more months because the hormone change (for however long it was affecting your body) was shocking an unusally high percentage of your hairs into a dormant (telogen) phase, but it can take 3 or so months between the time any particular hair dies and when it falls out.
That said, according to several docs, sometimes hormonal “hiccups” like this can cause temporary TE but *also* uncover another kind of hairloss that you may have already had at a lower/not really noticeable degree or have had the predisposition toward but not have been expressing yet.
I’m certainly no expert but you never had any (even slight) thinning before and if your hairloss is diffuse only, the combo of ferritin/PlanB to create a temporary loss seems potentially reasonable, and you might just need to get your ferritin in a more normal range (don’t know what the reference range is for the lab where you had your tests done, and that does matter, but 7 sounds pretty low based on ranges others have quoted.) Waiting it out might be reasonable then, too, because even if you start a hairloss treatment, it’ll take a couple months before you see any results, and by that time, you won’t be able to tell, if you experience less shedding and regrowth, whether it’s the result of the hairloss remedy or whether your body just righted itself, and that will make it hard to decide whether to go off the hairloss remedy.
If, however, your hairloss is diffuse but especially thin at the vertex, on the crown, and maybe at the temples–or if you have patches where it’s really thin–something else may be going on too. IMHO, in that case, I’d say keep at this withyour docs.
I’m curious…why the Retin A? Topical or pill? Was that for your skin? (Did you get a lot of acne after the PlanB?)
Claire 12.20.09 at 8:10 am
My hairloss is diffuse, but I notice it most at my temples, but both Dermatologists and my hair stylist say it is diffuse. My mother still has fairly thick hair and she is 70. I don’t know why she prescribed topical Retin A. I’ve read that it can block DHT and when used with Minoxidil it can make the Minoxidil absorb better. I haven’t started it yet and I’m not sure that I will. You have to wash it out every morning and I’ve stopped washing my hair everyday. I don’t have acne. Since I’ve never had hair loss before this I’m worried about starting something for regrowth since I feel like I’ve done enough damage to myself with the low iron and the Plan B and I’d like to believe that my body has taken enough of an assault and will return to normal but….I’m still very very worried and feel like I may be wasting precious time by not starting something to kickstart regrowth.
Do you know if while you have TE are you still suppose to have new regrowth or does that only start when the TE is over? I asked my derm to check but for some reason she refused.
E 01.06.10 at 9:57 am
I am so upset after reading all of these. I was on Ocella which is the off brand of Yaz and I started losing hair in November. I didn’t relate it to birth control until i started getting chest pains. I was only on Ocella for 6 months when this started happening. I immediately got off once I found out the problem and switched to nuva ring, I have only been on it for 3 weeks and am still losing hair. I bought hair skin and nails to help my hair grow but i cant stop it from falling out. HELP, i have already tried 5 types of birth control
Kate 01.08.10 at 5:47 pm
I can’t beleive how many of you have gone through the exact same situation I am now. I started Nuvaring about 5 months ago and started noticing changes in the thickness of my hair about 2 months ago. My friends and doctor at first told me it was my imagination, but the last month it has gotten severe and noticable. It was my hair dresser a few weeks ago who finally told me to go see a dermatologist. I am convinced after reading this blog, other blogs, and looking at the timeline of my hair loss that it is the nuvaring. I use to have really thick curly hair that the hairdresser would have to battle with for an hour to straighten and tame, but now my ponytail is at least half the size it use to be and my hair is very thin and only takes 20 minutes to straighten. I am seeing a dermatologist next week and have stopped using nuvaring. I am really scared about my situation and cried for the first time today about it. I am also scared to get in the shower and I will not allow my boyfriend to touch my hair anymore. It has become such a worry in my life, I can only hope that I start having some regrowth. I wonder if the drug company should know about the number of females suffering hair loss from this new form of birth control? It should be labeled and informed to patients when doctors recommend it! I wish I had known 5 months ago… I never would have tried nuvaring.
Maria 01.19.10 at 7:59 pm
Thank you all for sharing your stories, I feel so much better knowing I am not alone. I started on Nuvaring in December of 2008, having previously been on Ovcon 35 for a number of years. I’m 40 years old and am taking the BC for control of endometriosis. I have thick, very healthy hair that I treat very well - minimal processing, etc. Never had a problem with hair loss and neither do any other women in my family. I started noticing hair loss in September. Gradual at first, noticing hairs on my pillow, on my clothes, in the brush. Then it started falling out in larger clumps while shampooing, combing it wet was excrutiating because I knew I would have a handful of hair in my hand afterwards. Now I dread the shower and brushing my hair. I hate seeing the hair in the drain - my cleaning woman used to joke with me that I must have cleaned the drain and swept before she came because she never found any hair anywhere, not the case anymore and she even asked me about it last month.
As it continued to fall out month after month, I got very concerned and started doing some research. Couldn’t believe it when I saw on webmd.com that they specifically mention Nuvaring as contributing to hair loss. I immediately took the ring out and have been BC free for 2 months. I have not seen any decrease in the hair loss. I have been taking the prenatal vitamins and have even gone to a nutrionist to see if my diet was contributing. I have also had blood tests done and am awaiting results. I have noted some of your suggestions and will try them to see if they help. But the most helpful thing is knowing I am not alone. If you have not been through this, you can’t understand how depressing and impactful it can be to your life and self esteem. So thanks for sharing and hang in there ladies!
Jaimie-Lyn 02.09.10 at 11:48 am
Well Hello ladies.
Glad you could share your stories and help me feel like less of a freak.
I have alopecia, or rather I ‘did’. Back when i was 19. A tiny spot on the back of my head that I got ointment for and basically took care of right away. My doc knew what to put me on since my mom and sister also had alopecia. It grew back, case closed.
Or was it? I realize looking back that I was on the depo needle when that had happened.
And amazingly enough I am losing hair again for the last year and half. I’m now 27… And I *was* on the Nuva ring… for about 2 years. I just went off of it when my hair loss started to excellerate about 3 months ago. And it’s getting worse, still.
Currently the back of my head is shaved due to my messed up hair line, theres hardly any hair back there at all to be honest. And I have two major bald spots. One on the top of my head measuring about 4 inches wide by 2 inches tall. And one on the side of my head just a bit smaller. My hair falls out in clumps. I can run my hand threw my hair and put out handfuls of strands.. It’s embarassing to cook a meal and know someone will probably find a hair in it. Or try going out somewhere nice where a hat or bandana can not be worn. I’m at my wits end here.
I’m on creams (diprosone), I was getting scalp injections, which sorta worked but very slowly and painfully. And currently I’m going to try a bunch of vitamins. I work in a pharmacy and have been doing my research .. as soon as I can scan some info in. I’ll give you all a link to check out some ideas on how to grow back your hair.
Good luck and be strong. With or Without Hair, remember, YOU ARE ALL BEAUTIFUL. And we’ll FInd a away to fix this!
Paulina 02.24.10 at 8:35 am
I want to make you ALL feel better! I was on the Nuvaring forever and started to get hair loss. I didn’t notice mine until much later after starting Nuvaring and I had been on other birth control so I didn’t associate it with that…until I really thought about it in desperation. I then googled nuvaring and hair loss….and MY GOD…it was everywhere! Different formulations of BC can have different effects…but I am scared to death to try another BC!
So I want you to know…it took a couple of months but my hair IS growing back. And since hair grows in “shifts” if you will (Some follicles are stimulated at different times) I continue to get hair growth! YOU WILL BE FINE! I had gone to the doctor and they told me it could NOT be the Nuvaring. IT WAS! trust yourselves ladies! And if you can turn this into the FDA so that this side effect gets put on there so others are aware of this!
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/HowToReport/ucm053074.htm
I can’t believe the doctor made me feel stupid for thinking this could be the cause of my hairloss…again…BE YOUR ADVOCATE!
You’re all beautiful and you will all be fine! But go see your doctor…and tell your doctor and hairstylists about this so the word gets out!
Good luck to you ALL!
Jen 03.08.10 at 11:45 pm
I cannot believe I found this website. I have been suffering..and I mean suffering…with hair loss for over a year now. I was on the Nuva ring for 5 years, and never had any serious problems on it. In fact my HAIR and SKIN were amazing….(of course…my weight was another issue =P ) I decided I wanted to be healthy and natural…and skinnier, so I came off the nuva ring in August 2008. By December of 2008, my hair began to fall out by the handful. I would cry in the shower every day while conditioning my hair. I told my doctor and he recommended the amino acid Lysine (500mg) and Appearex (The box says its for nails but its just 2.5 mg of the vitamin Biotin). I took these for about a month and my hair stopped falling out at the crazy rate of over 100 strands a day. however, it has been over a year now and my hair has not grown back. I have an all over thinning of the scalp and it gets extremely thin by my temples and ears. it is so embarrassing. My hair is not what it used to be. The majoriy of my hair now is very fine baby hairs that do a pretty good job of covering my scalp, but they even fall out too. I used to have long hair, but now I have cut it just beneath my shoulders which has helped it to look fuller. Additionally, I have been trimming it every month so it stays as healthy as possible. I actually believe this is working. I still am shedding hair though, about 30 strands/less a day. I guess this is a normal shedding. I just would like to know how long it will take for my hair to fully grow back naturally…years?
Nuva Ring is not a healthy Birth control. Then again, is birth control healthy at all? Hormones play a serious role in the body, and by using BC, we are literally controlling our reproductive systems. It is logical that either going on, or coming off BC could cause serious and potentially lethal health problems. Ladies, I encourage you, if there is any other alternative to hormonal BC, please take it. It is still a drug, with side effects, and can hurt you. We only have one body…If I can go back in time, I would have never taken any BC at all. Im 22 (and Ive noticed some of you are younger) and we shouldnt be worrying about going bald, at least until we are in our 50s or 60s. And what is so sad is the fact that we are practically lied to so these manufacturers can make money. I wish I was told the effects of the higher androgen BCs because I would have never chose this stupid ring thing.