Expert: Melanie Vonzabuesnig - 6/22/2009

Question
hi sorry i was unclear before. i started taking the pill in april 2008, i then stopped it around august 2008 as i wanted to try for a baby. around october 2008 i notice my hair was falling out. i went to the doctors who sent me to see a gynocolghist who advised me to go back on the pill. i started taking the pill again in november 2008 and  i am still aking it. i the went to see a dermatoligist who told me i am suffering from tellogen effluvium as a result of stopping the pill. i have since been to a hair loss clinic and i am currently taking 4% monoxidol and have been for 2 months. i eat well excercise alot and take vitamans. my hair is still coming out some days more than others but im very down as a result of the hair loss. im unsure if starting the pill in the first place caused the hair loss or stopping it did. id just like to know if my hair should still be coming out an if its best for me to stay on the pill or come off. i have been on other pills in the past and never had this problem i have always had very thik hair and now half has gone. any thing you could suggest would be very helpful thank you x

Answer
Hello Susanne: If your hair loss is due to this medication, it was probably triggered by starting it, especially if you had no previous hair loss history or conditions which could cause hair loss. In a short period of time your body had to adjust to hormonal changes caused by this medication and then re-adjust to the discontinuation of it. It doesn't feel right to say that discontinuing this pill caused the hair loss, as the real cause would be that this medication was ever in your system in the first place. Even if discontinuing it triggered the telogen effluvium, it would have never occurred if it wasn't there to discontinue in the first place. I have read many reports of women have a very difficult time with this medication. Getting off it seems to often cause more symptoms than being on it.
Dianette is different from other pills used for birth control, as it has anti-androgen properties. This medication is often prescribed for women with androgenetic alopecia. Although it may help some women with this condition, it seems to cause hair loss in many women who did not previously have a hair loss condition.
I think it would be helpful to thoroughly research this medication to see how it has affected other users in regard to hair loss and other issues. This is especially important if you are planning to get pregnant.
Minoxodil was traditionally only prescribed for genetic hair loss. Now it seems as if it is being heavily prescribed for all types of hair loss. Discontinuing minoxodil is known to cause shedding of new growth that was achieved by using it.
Although there is a strong indication that the pill triggered your hair loss, there are also many other possible causes of telogen effluvium. You can read more about female hair loss at the links below.
Understanding Female Hair Loss
http://www.vzbotanicals.com/overcomefemalehairloss.html
Personal Experience Female Hair Loss
http://www.vzbotanicals.com/mystory.html