Should I take birth control to stop hair loss?

Question

Hi! I have been experiencing excessive hair shedding which seems to be a condition that happened to me two years ago as well, telogen effluvium. A physician I saw recommends getting on birth control, but I kept telling multiple doctors that it is exactly what seemed to trigger the shedding last time. Only this time I had to take a plan B bill exactly 2.5 months ago. My doctor still dismissed that possibility, even though I’ve read a complete list of side effects for hormonal bc multiple times. Thank you for your time and help!

Naji-tom Samaha · Accepted Answer

Hello, and thank you for your question! Female alopecia, or androgenetic alopecia, can be treated with certain contraceptives. While hair loss is possible , it remains rare (that is it will not happen to every woman taking contraception), and mostly occurs when the contraceptive is stopped. WIth that being written, certain contraceptives can be used to treat this problem, but it may take 3 to 6 months to properly assess it. Finally, a single dose of Plan B is unlikely to cause noticeable hair loss. I hope I've been helpful, don't hesitate if you have other questions! Tom Samaha, pharmacist