BC and hair loss - Hair Loss / Alopecia Message Board

jenn1v · 08-25-2005, 04:24 PM

Hi everyone,

I have posted before about my problems with Depo-provera, and i'm going to give you a update and i have a question as well. It's been almost 6 months since my last shot should have woren off. I have been feeling great. No more chest pains, lack of sleep or feeling nausea or faintish. The only problems still is that i can't loss a ounce of weight and i still have some hair loss. The hair loss has deff. slowed down. It used to be about 100 to almost 200 strands a day that would come out while i was on the shot and now it's about 20 to 30 strands usually just when i wash and detangle it. I can tell it's growing back cause when i pull it back into a ponytail or handband i have all these short strands sticking out. So, my question is for anyone who had hair loss from any BC how long did it take for all of it to grow back and did you use anything to help the process? Thanks for any info.

kittywitty · 08-25-2005, 08:26 PM

I was on Estrostep FE for just over two years (Feb. 2000-May 2002). I had horrible hair loss on it. When I stopped taking it, it slowed down but didn't completely stop altogether. In the summer of 2003, I started taking something called Saw Palmetto Extract. You can get it a vitamin store. It seemed to help alot with regrowth, although my hair is still thin. Prior to taking the Estrostep, I had very thick hair. :-( Anyway, I took the saw palmetto for just over a year. I noticed some regrowth after about six months. Make sure you get the extract, though, it is more potent and works better than the regular berries. One thing about it: it does make you eat more. But if you're doing extra exercise to compensate, you shouldn't gain weight. Also, it tends to make you have to pee alot. It's worth a try, though. I'd try something natural over a prescription any day. One very important point to remember: if you're currently on birth control, use backup. It's a hormonal herb and can decrease the effectiveness of bc. Good luck!

jenn1v · 08-27-2005, 08:39 AM

Hi Kitty,

Thanks for the info. I will deff. give it a shot. Right now i'm taking a mult. vitiamin and a beauty pack from GNC. I was also wondering when u were on the pill did your scalp become sentive? I noticed about 9 months into the shot i would get pains and my scalp was very sentive.But, i didn't see anything wrong and saw a Derm. and he said my scalp was heathly and it was from the Depo that was cause the pain. It gotten better but i do feel it once in a while. Thanks

kittywitty · 08-27-2005, 11:14 AM

You're quite welcome. I don't remember any pain, but ever since the hair loss started my scalp has been very 'tight'. My hairdresser said that the scalp is supposed to be 'loose' and that I should really massage it from the bottom up (starting at the top of the neck) when I wash it to get the circulation going. Good luck!