I first noticed my hair shedding a year ago and suspected it was from my birth control pills because it was the only medication I was taking. I stopped taking it Oct 2019 and from then til June 2020 continued to diffuse shed. I assumed it was telogen effluvium since everything I researched said it was normal for this to happen when starting and stopping birth control. In March I went to the derm to get my blood tested and the results came back with out of range slightly high testosterone and very out of range high DHEAS. Also, my periods had been long ever since I took birth control. This worried me because these were symptoms of PCOS and from what I understand the hair loss would be permanent. So did I have TE or AGA? And can birth control cause PCOS?

Unfortunately due to COVID, I wasn’t able to schedule an appointment with an endocrinologist. In the meantime, I tried to supplement with multivitamin, magnesium, bamboo silica, dong quai, peony and licorice, and collagen powder. I use a wood comb and brush only when my hair is dry. I switched to coil hair bands. I used a rosemary peppermint shampoo from Aveda. I attempted to dermaroll my scalp with rosemary oil. My diet hasn’t changed and I eat plenty of protein and fish. I mostly drink water and tea. I tried to de-stress by distracting myself with hobbies. But despite everything, my hair continued to shed and thin. My temples and top diffuse shed so even though my part hasn’t widened, I’m starting to see scalp under light and when I try flipping to new part. The hairline at my part has also thinned so much that my scalp is visible with like 15 strands keeping it from becoming a bald spot. I can’t put my hair in a ponytail without my part showing, or without making that balding spot in the front more pronounced. My once thick locks are reduced to individual wispy strands. I tried to throw everything at fixing the problem and it only seems to slowly get worse. I drove myself crazy looking at my hair in different lighting and part, occasionally thinking it’s not that bad to omg I’m going bald. It didn’t help that my mom, sister and boyfriend all told me they don’t see it and that I look fine.

I finally had an appointment with an endocrinologist in July and based on my March test results and irregular periods, she automatically said PCOS and recommended more birth control pills and Rogaine. I refused because I do not want to be at the mercy of medication for the rest of my life that doesn’t actually fix my hormonal imbalance but just slaps a bandaid on the symptoms. Also, I don’t want to rebound lose all my hair again when I inevitably have to stop taking them to get pregnant. I never had these issues until I went on birth control and I regret ever having done it. I eventually agreed to 50mg Spiro because I previously took it for acne and didn’t have negative side effects. I also started taking inositol to see if it helped regulate my periods. I don’t know if it helps, but I’m treating it as a stop gap to try to get some regrowth while I continue to look for a permanent solution. I also asked for a follow up blood test to see how my hormones were doing. My testosterone was normal but was the highest acceptable range. My DHEAS went even higher.

I’m scheduled to see another endocrinologist in Nov to get a second opinion and also help find the root cause of my adrenal issue. But I am at a loss for what more I can do. I’m depressed, scared, frustrated, angry, hopeless, alone, and I keep crying. I broke down at the idea of ordering Toppik. I don’t ever want to think about a wig because I will always feel like a fraud. I’m only 30 and I shouldn’t be worrying about my hair for the next 50 years of my life. I can’t live like this. But I don’t know how to cope. I came on here trying to find success stories to reassure myself that there is light at the end of the tunnel, but it pisses me off that in the decade since the first posts that doctors still don’t have any clue (or maybe they just don’t care) besides shoving birth control and Rogaine at us.

My hair has started to come out in handfuls. To the point I am afraid to wash or brush. I can see my scalp in a ponytail. Any thoughts??

Thanks..