Can Birth Control Cause Hair Loss?

If you’ve ever been on (or are currently taking) hormonal birth control, you’re no stranger to the side effects. Hello, mood changes, acne, and headaches.

One side effect you and your friends might whisper about: Can birth control cause hair loss? And if so, why does birth control make your hair fall out? While uncommon, some women have reported hair loss while using hormonal birth control.

Let’s talk about the relationship between birth control and hair loss and explore how to prevent or treat hair loss if you’re experiencing it.

Can birth control cause hair loss? We’ll cut straight to the chase. Yes, oral contraceptives — and other forms of hormonal birth control, like IUDs (intrauterine devices), implants, and skin patches — can potentially cause and contribute to hair loss in some people.

But how does birth control cause hair loss, exactly? A couple of ways. Before we get into the details, here’s a brief explanation of how hormonal birth control works.

Why can birth control cause hair loss for some people? Let’s start with how this medication works.

The Pill is one of the most common forms of birth control. Around 25 percent of women between the ages of 15 and 44 who currently use contraception are on the Pill.

Birth control pills work in two main ways.

First, they prevent the ovaries from releasing eggs during the menstrual cycle by increasing levels of certain hormones in the body. Second, birth control pills thicken the mucus lining the cervix, making it harder for sperm to enter the uterus and come into contact with an egg.

There are many options available, but two of the main categories are combination pills and mini pills.

Combination pills contain a synthetic version of the hormone estrogen (ethinyl estradiol is the one most commonly used) and progestin, a synthetic form of the hormone progesterone.

Mini pills, on the other hand, only contain progestin. These are sometimes called progesterone-only pills.

Birth control pills can vary in the amount of hormones they contain. They’re also often available in a variety of doses.

Both types of birth control pills are very effective (93 percent effectiveness with typical use), while the mini pill may also provide a lower risk of side effects for some people.

Keep in mind that most side effects of birth control pills tend to be mild, and they usually go away once your body adjusts to the hormones.

Side effects can vary depending on the medication, but here are some common side effects of birth control pills:

• Breakthrough bleeding (spotting between periods)

• Nausea

• Headaches

• Abdominal cramps

• Tender breasts

• Increased vaginal discharge

• Mood changes

Although not a common side effect, birth control hair loss can happen. Let’s explore how below.

The two main types of hair loss that can be triggered by hormonal birth control are telogen effluvium and female pattern hair loss (also known as androgenetic alopecia).

Telogen Effluvium Birth Control Hair Loss

It’s completely normal to shed some hair daily — how much hair you lose in a day typically falls somewhere between 50 and 100 strands. But a type of sudden, temporary hair shedding known as telogen effluvium causes significantly more hair loss.

Birth control pills, particularly combination pills, can cause hormonal fluctuations in the body that may disrupt the hair’s normal growth cycle, leading to telogen effluvium.

This type of temporary, physiologic, stress-related hair loss is also linked to other conditions that can act as a stressor to the body:

• Illness

• Surgery

• Infections

• Sudden hormonal changes (like after pregnancy or in menopause)

• Certain medications 

Birth control pills fall into those last two categories. To understand how this actually works, let’s break down the science of hair growth.

Normally, your hair grows in a three-phase cycle:

• Anagen phase. Also known as the growth phase, hair reaches its full length over the course of several years during the anagen phase. Typically, 80 to 90 percent of your hair is in this phase at any one time.

• Catagen phase. This is also known as the transition phase. After anagen, hair follicles enter the catagen stage, where they transition from growth to rest. This phase only lasts about two weeks.

• Telogen phase. Finally, hair enters a resting period called the telogen phase, when it stops growing. This stage lasts three to four months. The hair is shed at the end, and new hair grows from the same follicle. Typically, 10 to 15 percent of your hair is in this phase at any one time.

Changes in hormone levels produced by birth control pills can push some hair follicles prematurely from anagen (growth phase) into the telogen (resting) phase of their growth cycle. In that case, a much larger percentage of your hair may be in telogen, resulting in sudden, significantly increased shedding a few months later.

Telogen-phase hairs have a white, club-shaped root. If you notice hair falling out with white bulbs, it may indicate telogen effluvium.

It’s also worth mentioning that hair loss after stopping birth control can happen. Discontinuing medications that contain estrogen (like combination birth control pills) can cause telogen effluvium.

Remember, you won’t notice telogen effluvium hair loss until a few months after you start or stop taking the Pill. Why? Hair shedding begins after the three-to-four-month telogen phase ends.

Androgenetic Alopecia Birth Control Hair Loss

Hair loss from birth control can also be from a condition called androgenetic alopecia — also known as female pattern baldness.

Female pattern hair loss is linked to the effects of androgens (male sex hormones), such as dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which can cause hair follicles to shrink over time. This results in gradual, progressive hair thinning and noticeable hair loss.

The hormones in hormonal contraceptives tend to reduce the activity of androgens in your body. However, some forms of progestin have androgen-like effects on the hair follicle and can contribute to hair loss for some people. 

Contraceptives that can potentially elevate androgenic activity are typically referred to as having a “high androgen index.” These tend to contain one of the older-generation progestins.

In some cases, birth control pills and other hormonal contraceptives with a high androgen index may cause or contribute to androgen-related hair loss in women.

The hormonal contraceptive with the highest androgen index is norethindrone, which is found in a progestin-only pill and in the combination birth control pill Estrostep^®.

Here are some other factors associated with hair loss in women, according to the American Academy of Dermatology:

• Genetics. Some people inherit genes that can make them susceptible to a hereditary form of hair loss — i.e., androgenetic alopecia.

• Traction alopecia. Sometimes called ponytail hair loss, this type of hair loss is caused by hairstyles that put tension and stress on the roots.

• Hormonal imbalances. Similarly to starting, stopping, or switching hormonal birth control, a condition like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can cause a hormonal imbalance, which can lead to hair loss.

• Nutritional deficiencies. If you don’t get enough essential nutrients like biotin, iron, protein, or zinc, you may notice hair loss.

If your healthcare provider determines your hair loss may be due to hormonal birth control, we’re happy to tell you that, for most individuals, hair loss from birth control pills is temporary and will improve after adjusting to the hormones.

So, if you Googled “birth control pills and hair loss is it permanent,” we hope that puts you at ease a bit.

Now, let’s explore strategies for combating hair loss associated with hormonal birth control.

Shedding hair after starting or stopping oral contraceptives can be worrying. But there are ways to address hair loss if it happens.

Read on for tips on how to manage hair loss caused by birth control.

1. Contact Your Healthcare Provider

If you’ve recently started using the Pill and have noticed your hair shedding or looking thinner than usual, talk to your healthcare provider as soon as you can.

They may check your hair for signs of telogen effluvium using a “pull test” and possibly schedule blood tests to check your hormone levels, thyroid function, and nutrient status to rule out any other potential causes.

2. Ask About Switching to a New Birth Control

How to treat hair loss from birth control may involve switching to a different birth control pill or a non-hormonal type of birth control. Your provider might recommend this if the shedding is due to female pattern hair loss. Genetic hair loss can worsen in people with a genetic susceptibility when they take certain types of birth control pills.

This type of hair loss is gradual and progressive. Oral contraceptives higher in progestin can have androgenic activity and can trigger or worsen female pattern hair loss. The level of androgenic activity varies with different progestins.

Low-androgen index birth control pills, like desogestrel, norgestimate (generic for Ortho Tri-Cyclen^®), and norelgestromin, might be the best oral contraceptive choice for those who have female pattern hair loss or a genetic susceptibility to it.

3. Consider Hair Growth Treatment

While telogen effluvium typically resolves on its own, it can take many months. Hair growth medications such as minoxidil may help speed up the regrowth process.

If you’ve started noticing a gradual hair thinning that points to female pattern hair loss, minoxidil can help stop further hair loss and promote hair regrowth. Your healthcare provider might recommend using minoxidil in the form of liquid drops or foam — or oral minoxidil.

Another effective hair loss medication is finasteride, which can stimulate hair regrowth in androgenetic alopecia. However, products containing finasteride, like topical finasteride & minoxidil spray, are typically only recommended for postmenopausal women.

Modern medicine — including birth control — is an amazing innovation for women today. But, like all medications, oral contraceptives come with some risks.

The biggest drawback of taking birth control pills? Potential side effects, including less common but possible hair loss.

Here’s what to keep in mind about hair loss and hormonal birth control:

• Can birth control cause hair loss? It’s not as common as other side effects, but yes, hormonal oral contraceptives can cause hair loss in some women.

• One way birth control pills may cause hair loss is through a temporary, sudden hair loss condition called telogen effluvium. This can result from any type of stressor to the body, including illness, surgery, severe emotional stress, certain medications, and hormonal changes. Notably, stopping birth control pills can sometimes lead to telogen effluvium as well.

• The other type of hair loss linked to birth control pills is female pattern hair loss. This happens when the hormones in birth control pills increase the hormones that cause hair loss.

• To determine the best treatment plan, it’s important to understand the root cause of hair loss. Depending on the cause, treatment may involve switching to a different birth control pill or to non-hormonal birth control. Minoxidil, a proven hair regrowth treatment, may also be an appropriate option.

If you want to know how to stop hair shedding, our guide goes into detail about the causes and treatments. We also rounded up these tips for preventing hair loss.

If you’re interested in learning more about hair loss treatments, you can connect with a licensed healthcare provider specializing in dermatology and hair conditions through our platform.