Birth Control & HAIR LOSS!!

[Candy]

I have been on various birth control methods for about 18 years now, never once was I ever warned of a SERIOUS side effect that is caused by the use of birth control! It wasn't until I googled the name of the current brand to find out a little bit more. To my shock - I saw right underneath the direct link website to Seasonique (the brand I am currently on) was the link to a "Seasonique and Hair Loss" discussion thread. Now, I have always "shedded" hair at a rate that was not reallly normal for as long as I can remember, but it wasn't until I began Seasonique that it became alarming. I started taking Seasonique because I would suffer some of the most debilitating headaches for 3 days while on the sugar pill of the other forms. My doctor recommended Seasonique as there is a steadier level of of estrogen thus lessening the headaches she believed to be caused by the drop in estrogen.
On this website, numerous women told their horror stories of hair loss and the link to various birth control methods that contain low estrogen. Some of these women had lost so much of their hair that they are now severely depressed and are forced to contemplate surgery for hair replacement. Not once were they told by their doctors that hair loss could be a possible side effect of the low estrogen birth control. This was my case as well.
Now, I realize that messing with the hormones in one's body will/would cause some other things to go out of wack, but WOW!
I have been on Seasonique for 6 months prior to finding out - but as soon as my doctor's office opens this morning, you can bet that I will be changing my prescription to something else.

[NW Admin]

That was exactly what happened to me with the Depo Provera birth control injection. I actually started to get bald patches. I would watch as my hair came out in clumps in the shower. It wasn't right way, mind you, but after a long time of use. My mother actually happened to notice and say "Oh my gosh, you are going bald on the back of your head here." I asked the doctors if that was part of taking Depo. They all said no. Either they really didn't know enough about it, or they didn't want to admit it. Read my post in here about Depo Provera and all the side effects it caused and what I discovered with research.

Anyway, you will be happy to know that my hair grew back in. However, it took many years for it to grow in and I still have one thin area. I didn't see any new hair growth for a couple of years. I am so thankful it grew back though! I refuse to take birth control ever again!

[CarolineWH]

I have had three big medical problems with prescriptions in the last ten years...I have actually written them up at another site...Big mistakes...

I have found that the doctor's will prescribe the prescription but he does not know of the problems involved with taking them...It is the pharmacist that you MUST talk to about this...When you think of it, how can a doctor know all these things...He is up to his ears just trying to keep up with all the new drugs and to try and recall each and every thing about them is just about impossible.

Talk to the pharmacist about each drug...They will check thoroughly for you...I have had some serious problems in my life because the doctor did not realize some important things about the drug and I really can't blame him...I guess I would have to say it is up to us as the patient to be sure that we know what we are taking even if he gives us a sample...

[NW Admin]

That's just like with that Depo Provera. It says right on the warning label that it causes Osteoporosis (bone density loss) and weight gain.

So, here I was in the doctor's office because I was sick last summer. This young girl, probably 17 or so comes into the office with her mother. She was a BIG girl. Very overweight. They sit next to me so I can't help but over hear their conversation. The daughter is talking about her knees are really hurting her and she can't hardly walk. Makes sense considering how overweight she was. But in addition to that, the nurse comes out to get her and the daughter asks "Do you think it would be ok, if I get my Depo Provera shot early this month?" My mouth fell on the floor! Are you kidding me?? They are giving this poor girl a drug that not only will add to her weight problem, but also cause bone loss. Both of those issues will add to her knee problems too! I just couldn't believe what I was hearing.

I would also like to add that your hair, teeth, and nails are also directly related to the health of your bones. So if birth control is making your hair fall out, you should be concerned about what it could be doing to your bones. I worry every day that I am going to be diagnosed with Osteoporosis because of that ****** drug! I believe that if it comes to that, I will be sueing the makers of Depo. Simply because I was one of those unfortunately people who took it for 5 years before they realized it caused Osteoporosis after just 2 years! Many people sued them already for that. But I was still very young and recovered from my problems. I won't know until I am older if it caused Osteoporosis.

[Chelsea222]

Ewwww... birth control makes me sick and turns me into an emotional wreck! I can't take it! I don't trust it either. Doesn't seem natural.