Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Is your Birth Control making you BALD?


Hope this post meets everyone in good spirits. I’ve said before this blog was born from the labor pains of my own experiences, and this is one I noticed recently and went into heavy research on. Birth Control.

I had been on birth control (pills and ring) for 7+ years. My hair didn’t grow as long as quick as it used to when I was in high school but I thought that it was from the excessive coloring and perming (which I am sure was a BIG factor). However, even after going natural, I wasn’t seeing the results I had hoped for, and nothing close to my high school days length. Last January, I made the decision to get off birth control. Currently, my hair has been the longest it’s been in the past 7 years. It’s flourished! I do attribute a lot of it to my hair care regimen, but I always said in the back of my mind, something had to be different.
Low and behold, the birth controls gods started to reel me back in, and during my research for the best brand for my body, I noticed the side affects hair loss
Wait… * BBM Confused Face *
Hair loss, by this little pill? No. Couldn’t be. But sure enough, right there in front of me, on the world wide web… pages upon pages upon pages of research and studies saying that birth control is a factor in hair loss with women.
Did you know that? Because I didn’t.
Hair loss triggered by the pill varies. In some cases, the loss is minimal. Other times, it can be drastic. And here is a little wrench in the plan… Hair loss may not occur until after a woman has stopped taking the pill. SMH.  While the pill is safe, women whose family histories include hair loss need to be prepared that taking the pill could cause them to lose their hair. Knowing this, women can make better and more informed decisions about how to approach birth control.
So now the question is posed… What the hell can I do?

There are DOZENS of brands and types of oral contraceptives on the market. Those with what is called a low androgen index are less likely to cause hair loss. Women concerned about the possibility of hair loss as a side effect of using The Pill should ask their doctors about low-androgen index.
For a quick reference, here is a list of pills from the lowest androgen to the Highest (taken from http://www.americanhairloss.org/):

Desogen, Ortho-Cept, Ortho-Cyclen, Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Micronor, Nor-Q D, Ovcon-35, Brevicon/Modicon, Ortho Norvum 7/7/7, Ortho Novum 10-11, Tri-Norinyl, Norinyl and Ortho 1/35, Demulen 1/35, Triphasil/Tri-Levien, Nordette, Lo/Ovral, Ovrette, Ovral, Loestrin1/20, Loestrin 1.5/30.
If you don’t see you brand on there, its probably because its has an even higher androgen index. If you have notices a change in your hair, you might want to reconsider changing brands.
The following hormonal contraceptives have a significant potential of causing or aggravating hair loss:
Progestin Implants- Implants, such as Norplant, are small rods implanted surgically beneath the skin, usually on the upper arm.
Hormone Injections- Progestin injections, such as Depo-Provera.
Skin Patch- The skin patch (Ortho Evra).
Vaginal Ring- The vaginal ring (NuvaRing).

NOTE- Any medication or therapy that changes a woman's hormones, not just birth control, can trigger hair loss in anyone who takes them.
If you are on birth control, make sure you take the time to research, and observe your hairs reaction. Changing the pill’s brand wont cause any problems with preventing pregnancy (IF done exactly as laid out by direction and your OB/GYN). However, a small change may make a big difference!
You don’t have to choose between being bald or being pregnant! Unless you Amber Rose who looks amazing as both.

Hope this gave you ladies something to think about! Stay informed so your hair can stay on your head!

A Girl Should be two things, Classy and Fabulous”- Coco Chanel

Keep it Cute Ladies!

-Sioban 


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