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
{ 12 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?