The more research I do online..

[kittykat]

the more that I am convinced that my hair loss is a direct result of me using both the nuva ring and the ortho patch. Two forms of B.C that are known to trigger hair loss in women. I'm so bummed that all of this is because of me using these two forms of b.c. I am also angry that my doctor prescribed these to me without practicing due diligence by going over the side effects with me. So much so that I don't even think I want to use her as my doctor anymore. I've spent some time looking through some of my old pictures tonight and I miss my hair so much :(. Right now i'm not doing anything to treat it because i'm hoping somehow that my body will "right" itself naturally. I've been off the b.c now for about 5-7 months.

Anyways, so I need to find someone to help me on this journey and I came across this doctor :

[link removed]

He's not convered by our health insurance though, so I would have to inquire on his fees.

[Women's Hair Loss Project]

Hi Sugarkitty -

I had to remove the link you put in your post, because I have heard numerous negative reports on that physician and I don't want to direct any of my readers to that site, nor would I suggest that you go there. That is my opinion based on several stories I have heard.

I also have hair loss as a result from taking a bcp, Loestrin FE. I personally think at this point, it may be too soon to start jumping into treatments because I feel it would be probably best to give your body a chance to straighten out on it's own. I personally always wished I had waited longer to begin treatment instead of running out and getting caught up in it right away. I always wonder if my situation would have just turned around on it's own.

I know exactly what you are going through. I also was very angry at my gynecologist for not pointing out the possibility that *any pill* can trigger hair loss, either telogen effluvium, or in those that are genetically predisposed.. androgenetic alopecia. When I later had gone back to her and told her that the pill is the cause of my hair loss, she totally dismissed it, like it couldn't happen in a million years. I never went back after that day.

xoxo

[kittykat]

It's such a frustrating journey isn't it? Not to mention long. Similar to Rome, hair doesn't grow in a day! I know corny joke... My instinct tells me to wait a bit before taking any medications, it just such a slow journey to seeing either progress or no progress. I think I need start taking pictures because I honestly can't tell if it's worse or not. I'm not losing a lot of hair and I do have hairs that are 1-2 inches long where I lost it completely but my hair is SO thin now. It's making me think that while I'm not losing a lot, what is lost is not being replaced.

Thanks for your kind words :>

[nappeal]

Sorry Kitty - I feel like I'm in your same boat. Soon after I started taking BCP, I noticed my hair thinning. I don't remember a ton of loss before then, but I obviously had to lose a lot at some point for my hairline to look how it does! My hairs themselves have started getting very thin, some missing pigment for a couple millimeters from the root. I've found some that are so waife-like & trunsluscent that when I've held them between my fingers, they almost look like spiderwebs. Like you, I don't have increased shedding; if nothing else I just have increased thinning. I got my ferritin checked & it was on the low side, so my Dr got me to start taking iron as he's convinced this is the source of my HL. Unfortunately, I'm WAY more skeptical then he is about it being an iron-deficiency. Have you had that tested yet?

After doing all the online research I have, I'm convinced early-aged and/or sudden hair loss has a culprit in every case, whether its a medication, stressful trauma, or medical condition. If its not AGA, there is most definitely a reason for the loss. The hardest, and most frustrating, part about HL is finding out for sure what's wrong and if it can be stopped. Your hair is not meant to just up and decide one day it wants to slowly fall off your head for no apparent reason! There has to be something disrupting the growth, but its finding out what that 'something' is that be be so difficult and straining.

Good luck to you and everyone else in dealing with their HL.

[divinem]

I find it so sad that there are so many young women on this Board that started losing their hair in their 20's early 30s. I'm 42 now, not like my life is over, but the 20s/30s are such a critical time for mating [speaking purely from a biological perspective], sexual identity, etc.

I didn't start dealing with this until the Hashimoto's kicked in around 3 years ago. I have had bouts of TE caused by a shock to the system, but the hair grew back (never to the same insane density I had as a 20 year old, but it grew back) and I've gotten to enjoy a long stretch of life without stressing out about whether or not I'm going to go bald in the next year.

I am convinced that many of our members are dealing with this as a direct result of different forms of birth control. I tried BC pills in my early 20s, but had to go off immediately because of blood clots showing up in my legs. Little did I know the gift I'd received by not being able to take it. I've come to the conclusion that screwing with one's menstrual cycle/estrogen patterns is like playing Russian Roulette with one's health.

I cannot imagine what it must be like for those who are 10-20 years my junior, and my heart goes out to you. I'm having a really hard time with it myself.

Hang in there.

[Loriann]

This is my first post, and I must say reading all the entries has been enlightening, as well as overwhelming. I am 52' and have lost 1/2 of my hair in the last three years. I had a biopsy done last year, and was told I had a mild case of hereditary hair loss. What is so crazy about this diagnosis, no one in my family has this...and I've been told im not adopted!

I was always so fortunate to have a thick head of hair, and it was really the only thing about my looks I liked. I never had to style it, could wear it in a lot of different styles, etc. Now, I had it cut shorter just to try and make it look thicker, but when it's thinning all over, the cut doesn't hide the thinning that much. I was crying almost every day, but now Im just numb and find myself depressed and feeling unattractive. My husband thinks I'm crazy, and says he doesnt see what I see, but others do...my Mom, sister.

I was told by dermatologist to use rogaine...men's, 5%, but it made my hair look even worse, and with no results. I am seriously considering the Kevis hair loss program, and wondering if anyone in this forum has tried this program? If you have, your imput would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you for listening, and for sharing your stories.

[NYCGirlie]

Hi Sugarkitty -

I had to remove the link you put in your post, because I have heard numerous negative reports on that physician and I don't want to direct any of my readers to that site, nor would I suggest that you go there. That is my opinion based on several stories I have heard.

I also have hair loss as a result from taking a bcp, Loestrin FE. I personally think at this point, it may be too soon to start jumping into treatments because I feel it would be probably best to give your body a chance to straighten out on it's own. I personally always wished I had waited longer to begin treatment instead of running out and getting caught up in it right away. I always wonder if my situation would have just turned around on it's own.

I know exactly what you are going through. I also was very angry at my gynecologist for not pointing out the possibility that *any pill* can trigger hair loss, either telogen effluvium, or in those that are genetically predisposed.. androgenetic alopecia. When I later had gone back to her and told her that the pill is the cause of my hair loss, she totally dismissed it, like it couldn't happen in a million years. I never went back after that day.

xoxo

I am in the same boat! I used Loestrin for less than a year back in 2008-2009 and regret it! I asked if there's anything I can do for heavy periods, and my gyno said Loestrin works. She NEVER mentioned what I now read online. I probably googled it before using it but I had massive hair so I prob dismissed the possibility of hair loss. Two years and many doctors later, and I am no closer to ending this than I was before. I also had low ferritin which I have now treated. I am not seeing any major regrowth so I am now convinced that Loestrin triggered something that is not ending. And like you my gyno said she's never heard of this happening before and said since I took it so long ago, my hair loss cant be from the pill because its out of your system within 2 months! Have you had any success with regrowth? Does this eventually stop? How can I find out if the pill kicked in AA? Please share your regimine...I am always researching so I can have more informed conversations with my doctor this time around