Can Birth Control Cause Hair Loss?

Finding hair on your pillow or clogging your shower drain is concerning enough, but when you suspect your birth control might be the culprit, it adds another layer of anxiety. If you've noticed more shedding since starting or switching contraceptives, you're not alone.

Tons of women see changes in their hair after starting hormonal birth control. Those pill-induced hormone shifts can absolutely impact your locks, and the connection is backed by science.

In this guide, we'll explore exactly how birth control can affect your hair, which birth control types are most likely to cause shedding, and most importantly, what effective solutions exist for regrowth.

Whether you're currently experiencing hair loss or simply researching potential side effects before starting a new method, we've got you covered.

Birth Control & Hair Loss Connection

So, can birth control cause hair loss? 

Yes, the hormones in birth control can have an influence on how your hair grows or sheds. But not all birth control will have the same effect. It depends on the type of hormones used in the pill, and your personal sensitivity to this possible effect. (More on that later.) 

Birth control pills contain synthetic versions of estrogen and progesterone that work by regulating your menstrual cycle and preventing pregnancy. These same hormones, and the balance, can also influence your hair's growth cycle in unexpected ways.

How Hormones Affect Your Hair

Your hair naturally grows in cycles—growing, resting, and shedding. Hormones play a crucial role in regulating these cycles, which is why hormonal fluctuations can trigger changes in your hair's thickness and growth patterns.

Birth control pills alter your body's hormone levels, and for some women, this hormonal shift can disrupt the natural hair growth cycle. Specifically, some synthetic hormones in certain contraceptives have what's called "androgenic activity," meaning they can act similarly to testosterone in the body.

Who's Most Likely to Experience Hair Loss?

Not everyone who takes hormonal birth control will experience hair loss. This side effect appears more frequently in those who are already predisposed to hair thinning, either through:

• Family history of pattern hair loss
• Specific genetic factors
• Previous episodes of hormone-related hair issues
• Existing conditions like PCOS that affect hormone balance

The American Hair Loss Association (AHLA) acknowledges this connection, recommending that women concerned about hair loss should consider low-androgen index birth control pills. For those with a strong genetic predisposition to hair loss, they even suggest exploring non-hormonal contraceptive options altogether.

Timing and Types of Hair Loss

If you’re taking birth control and experiencing hair loss, consider the timing of the hair changes. Birth control-related hair loss typically manifests in one of two scenarios:

1. Starting a new birth control method: Some women notice increased shedding within the first few months as their body adjusts to the new hormone levels.
2. Discontinuing birth control: Known as "post-pill shedding," this occurs when the body experiences another hormonal shift after stopping contraceptives.

In most cases, this hair loss is temporary. 

Your body often adapts to the new hormonal balance within 3-6 months, at which point normal hair growth typically resumes. 

However, for some women, particularly those with genetic predispositions, the impact may be more pronounced or prolonged.

Let’s explore birth control pill options that may cause hair loss. 

Birth Control Pills That May Cause Hair Loss

If you're already predisposed to hair loss through genetics or conditions like PCOS, certain birth control pills might be more likely to cause problems for your hair. Let's break down which ones you should be more cautious about.

High-Androgen Index Pills

Some birth control contains progestins that act a lot like testosterone in your body, not ideal if you're worried about your hair. The main culprits include:

• Pills with Levonorgestrel: Like Seasonale and Seasonique
• Norgestrel-based options: Including Ovrette
• Pills containing Norethindrone acetate: Such as Loestrin and Microgestin

If your mom, sisters, or other close female relatives have experienced hair thinning, these pills might amplify that genetic tendency. Many women don't make the connection between their new birth control and their suddenly clogged hairbrush—but the link is real.

First-Generation Progestins

The older progestins used in some pills tend to be harsher on your hair:

• Norethindrone: Found in pills like Ortho-Micronor and Camila
• Ethynodiol diacetate: In brands like Zovia

If you have PCOS, these are especially worth avoiding. Your hormones are already having a party without adding these to the mix.

Progestin-Only Pills (Mini-Pills)

That estrogen in combination pills? It actually helps protect your hair. So when you go with progestin-only options, you lose that buffer. This matters most if:

• Hair loss runs in your family
• You've had hair shedding after pregnancy before
• You're in your 30s or older when hormones start changing anyway

What to Watch For

Keep an eye out for:

• More hair than usual in your shower drain
• A part line that's getting wider
• Thinning around your temples
• That feeling when your ponytail suddenly feels lighter and thinner

The good news is, most birth control-related hair loss is temporary. And if you're concerned, you can always talk to your doctor about switching to a more hair-friendly option before your shedding gets out of hand.

Birth Control Pills If You’re Worried About Hair Loss

If you’re predisposed to hair loss, or are very sensitive to hormonal changes, you might consider a low-androgen birth control option. 

Low-Androgen Options

• Pills with Drospirenone: Like Yaz, Yasmin, and Nikki. Drospirenone actually blocks those pesky androgens that can trigger hair loss. Some women with hereditary hair thinning even notice improvement after starting these!
• Desogestrel-containing pills: Such as Mircette and Kariva. These have much less impact on your hair than the older progestins.
• Norgestimate options: Including Ortho-Cyclen and Sprintec. These tend to be gentler on your hair follicles than their hormonal cousins.

Treating Hair Loss Caused By Birth Control 

Dealing with hair loss from birth control can feel like a cruel trade-off—protection from unwanted pregnancy at the cost of your hair's thickness and health.

Birth control can cause hair loss because hormonal contraceptives can disrupt your hair's natural growth cycle, especially if you're already genetically predisposed to thinning. But, also keep in mind that not everyone will experience hair loss or thinning from birth control, so it’s not a definite.

But here's the truth: you don't have to choose between effective birth control and keeping your hair.

If you are trying to find the best birth control option for you, and you have a concern about hair loss, speak with your healthcare provider. They will take your concerns into account and help you find the best birth control options for you.

Advanced Solutions for Hormone-Related Hair Loss

At Strut, we've created a powerful 4-in-1 topical treatment specifically designed to target androgen-related female pattern hair loss. 

Our premium formula combines the most effective, science-backed ingredients to address hair loss from multiple angles:

• Spironolactone: Works directly on your hair follicles by blocking those pesky androgen receptors that can trigger thinning. This medication is used off-label for hair loss and may help counteract the hormonal effects that birth control might have triggered.
• Finasteride: Prevents the production of DHT (dihydrotestosterone), the hormone most responsible for shrinking your hair follicles. By stopping DHT formation, we help create an environment where your hair can thrive again. Note: Not every woman is a good candidate for Finasteride. Finasteride can cause birth defects and is not recommended for women who are of childbearing age.
• Minoxidil: The gold standard in hair regrowth, minoxidil increases blood flow to your scalp and directly stimulates new growth. It may help extend your hair's active growth phase.
• Supporting ingredients: Our formula can also include optional Fluocinolone to reduce inflammation, Tretinoin to enhance absorption and stimulate renewal, and Biotin to provide essential nutrients for healthy hair formation.

For truly optimal results, we also recommend supplementation, Strut’s daily hair supplement, formulated with the specific nutrients your hair needs to recover from hormonal stress. This inside-out approach ensures your body has all the building blocks necessary for strong, resilient hair growth.

When Will You See Results?

Unlike single-ingredient treatments, our comprehensive formula tackles hormone-related hair loss from every angle. The high-penetration delivery vehicle ensures these powerful ingredients actually reach your hair follicles where they're needed most.

Women who've experienced birth control-related hair loss often see significant improvement within 3-6 months of consistent use. Many report not just halting their hair loss but actually regrowing thicker, healthier hair.

Takeaway: Can Birth Control Cause Hair Loss?

Yes, birth control can cause hair loss in some women, though the relationship is complex and highly individual. Here's what we've learned:

• Hormonal birth control methods can trigger hair thinning, particularly in those genetically predisposed to hair loss
• Pills with high-androgen index progestins (like levonorgestrel and norethindrone) are more likely to cause shedding
• Hair loss can occur both when starting birth control or after stopping it (post-pill shedding)
• The shedding is typically temporary, with most women seeing improvement within 3-6 months
• Women concerned about hair loss may benefit from low-androgen birth control options like pills containing drospirenone (Yaz, Yasmin)
• For those experiencing hair loss, effective treatments are available, including Strut Health's 4-in-1 topical treatment for women

Everyone's body responds differently to hormonal changes. What triggers significant shedding in one person might have minimal effects in another. If you're noticing more hair in your brush or shower drain after starting birth control, don't panic—but don't ignore it either.

Strut Health Prescription Hair Loss Treatments Online

Here at Strut, we offer a range of hair loss treatments that specifically target hormone-related hair thinning, including loss triggered by birth control. Strut’s solutions focus on treating androgenetic alopecia—the most common form of hair loss that can be worsened by hormonal fluctuations.

For female hair loss, we use a combination of topical Minoxidil, Spironolactone, and/or Finasteride—all customized to fit your needs. 

If you are interested in seeing what a prescription hair loss treatment can do to help you, simply select a base product, and complete a free online questionnaire and image-based consultation with our U.S.-licensed doctors in under 15 minutes. They will review your information and develop a treatment plan for you, if appropriate. Then, a U.S. compounding pharmacy will put your medication together and ship it to your front door with free shipping.

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