Treya

Hello There,

I have been very concerned as of late about some scalp hair loss that has been occurring since my first starting Alesse. I only stayed on it for less than two months, but noticed my hair was thinning quite a bit.

I stopped taking it, and started Yasmin, which I've been on for three months. I have visited three Doctors about what I feel is a problem. The first said that it was impossible to be losing hair with Alesse- that it should actually promote hair growth (anti-androgenic properties of all pills). The second suggest I get my thyroid checked, which was clear. He also said that the cause of allopecia cannot be solved, to try going off the pill for a little while and then trying something different (I did go off- my hair seemed fine- but I am an athlete and want to stay regular- he then put me on ortho-lo the month later).

I am now on Yasmin, as I was given abroad in the UK. I have been for three months, and I have no break-through bleeding (as on alesse), it seems to have helped my skin, and I am in general happy with it. Unfortunately, however, I still feel my hair thinning, so I visited a doctor yesterday again about it.

He said, as the first, that millions of women take birth control and this is a rare and secondary side effect. He said I should look at it the other way around- the horse before the cart- and think of genetics, or the stress of traveling and training.

I am 24 years old, have nice hair (when it's not messy ) and am a fairly uncomplicated person. I would only go to the Doctor if I felt this was an issue.

I have read a lot on the matter, and have a year of medicine behind me. From what I gather, there are women who have been experiencing this.

My questions are:
1.) Has anyone experienced this initially with BC, and does it get better? Is it best just to continue taking BC? Is it just that the body must adjust to the hormones in the beginning?
2.) Does anyone have any treatments, home or otherwise, that may help?
3.) I've heard some people have been given Yasmin to help in hair loss... How is it that others experience otherwise?
4.) Does anyone have any other comments about this?

I will continue taking Jasmin for the time being. I would love to hear some encouraging stories as at the moment I am not sure what to think.

Thank you,

Treya