So you stopped the pill and now you’re losing your hair?

Hair loss after stopping birth control is common. And guess what? It’s listed as a side effect of the pill too. But why do these symptoms so often rear their ugly head once you STOP taking the pill? Acne, amenorrhea, hair loss, mood swings  these are commonly complained about when coming off the pill.

Now my logical brain tells me there are two main reasons this happens:

1. The hormone switch has been ‘off’ for too long

When the hormone switch has been ‘off’ for so long, the body suddenly has to fire back up again  but because it’s so hormonally depleted, it just can’t get the balance of hormones right. Your body has been full of synthetic hormones! For some, relearning how to make it again is super tricky. Low oestrogen with relative androgen excess resulting in excess testosterone has been associated with hair loss. This is also because…

2. Your body is lacking essential vitamins and minerals

While on the pill your body has been starved. Essential vitamins and minerals just can’t be utilised by the gut (since the pill has the same affect as antibiotics) nor can the body adequately store them  you’re so far behind the 8-ball, it looks like a tiny dot at the other end of a very big billiards table! It’s also had synthetic oestrogen being pumped in, so it’s not used to making its own. It has to relearn.

And this is when your thyroid comes in.

Your thyroid is critical to hormone regulation

The thyroid is the master controller of your body when it comes to hormone regulation.

Hair loss is also a key symptom that they thyroid isn’t working, so naturally my brain screams  fix your thyroid people!

The thyroid is generally the cause of most hormonal issues – but please know, not all blood tests will reflect this, so sifting through some key signs and symptoms that your thyroid is bung may be the real key to treating the cause.

Other symptoms include:

  • weight gain around the mid section
  • cold hands and feet
  • dry skin
  • constipation
  • poor memory
  • depression

So how do you actually fix that?

Balancing hormones is key to all areas of health  especially when your body is screaming out to you by way of hair loss or acne.

Testosterone is necessary for women (in small amounts)  it’s required for us to go on and make our other hormones. But if it’s in excess it can lead to a whole other situation of hair loss.

Using other clues to piece together the puzzle is key to make a definite diagnosis, but by the same token, if you can decode what your body is sharing with you by way of symptoms and apply some diet and lifestyle changes you may easily be back on track to holding onto your precious locks.

Need to fix your thyroid? My Masterclass, Debunking Your Thyroid is your best friend

If you're losing your hair after stopping birth control, check your thyroid health

If you need to rev up your thyroid there are some simple things you can do to adapt to your lifestyle to assist in doing so. In a nutshell, increasing progesterone is key.

While some practitioners are mad for progesterone cream, I like to suggest diet and lifestyle changes that can benefit.

Here are my top suggestions to get your thyroid firing again:

1. Maca. It’s an adaptan, which basically means it ‘adapts’ or adjusts your body. If your thyroid is under-active (hypothyroidism), it helps to fire it up, or if it is over active (hyperthyroidism) it helps to decrease its activity. How clever? Maca is a superfood from Peru. There are mixed ideas about maca. Personally I love it. I’ve spoken about it before here.

2. Coconut butter/oil. You know I’m mad for the stuff. It helps to fire up your metabolism, it’s full of good fats which are essential for fuelling your hormones and it helps the but work better. It’s another love of mine and a huge feature in my ebooks.

3. Seaweed – its high in iodine which helps wake up your thyroid. You could alternatively use iodine supplements but I love using food as medicine.

4. Iodised salt. Again – because of the iodine factor it will help to support your thyroid.

5. Adequate levels of Selenium, Magnesium and Vitamin A keep your thyroid in check. Get onto that one stat.

6. Exercise is important to stimulate the body and the thyroid – this is especially important to those who are stressed. Oh and sleep – that’s another good healer. Those two will help to sort out those cortisol levels and support prolactin.

7. Eat little and often. Keeping things chugging along is the key for those with a sluggish thyroid. They (or should I say we – because I’m one of these people) require that extra kick to the metabolism – so regular eating is key.

Of course, sometimes things need a little more tweaking and that is where I step in. If you adapt these changes and feel you still need more assistance, your natural health practitioner is your go to person. Of course I also offer online consultations too!

Just having one or more of these symptoms is enough for you to suspect thyroid issues – so start with these simple ideas and have your hair growing back, STAT.

Girl, if you’re losing your hair we really need to talk…

You’re invited to my membership to tap into a WORLD of goodness including a safe place where we can chat about your health and hormones and get to the bottom of what’s going on.

For as little as $16 per month, you can access this and SO MUCH more.  See you in there.

77 Comments

  • August 5, 2013 By janelle 8:57 am

    Thanks for your great article Nat! I’ve recently come off the pill and am just wondering after how many months you can expect your body to be in its natural state?

    I’ve been following your advice on health talks with ovulation etc but I know you said that you cant track your menstrual cycle if you have just come off the pill because your body doesn’t send the right signals?

    • August 6, 2013 By mnfadmin 6:53 am

      As a general rule – 6 months. But there is so much (as I’ve stated here on my site) that you can do in this process. Search ‘the pill’ using the search function – you’ll find loads of info x

    • August 12, 2013 By Marci 12:18 am

      I just wanted to say that I stopped the pill in December after being on it for 10 years (ugh, if I only knew then what I know now) and it wasn’t until I started taking Maca and magnesium that I finally noticed an improvement (I have also eliminated all sugar and crap from my diet and I am gluten free). Good luck. Hang in there- there is a light at the end of the tunnel!

      • August 17, 2013 By mnfadmin 7:35 am

        perfect!

  • August 5, 2013 By clara 9:50 am

    Thanks. Great info! I have also recently come off the pill. Not to get preggers but just because I don’t want to be on it anymore. So like Janelle I also wanted to ask how long on average does it take to get back to “normal”. I realise everyone is different but roughly?

  • August 5, 2013 By Simone 10:09 am

    Thanks so much for this Nat! I have been off mine since about November last year- after educating myself with all your advice. Here I am wondering if I was going crazy with hectic mood swings, my hair shedding ALL THE TIME, dry skin – no matter how much coconut oil and Kora I use, Acne and having a MIA period. Only now is my skin starting to clear up a little, period is still come and go when she feels like it…..but seriously, they should actually tell you about all this when you go to the doctor! Mine happily put me on it when I was 16! 6 years of chemicals really does no good at all and I hate that soo many young girls are going on it without knowing what it is doing first!! Thank you, thank you, thank you for educating everyone and giving solutions on how to regain normality again!

    • June 20, 2017 By Tanya 5:39 am

      Hi I can relate to many of you ladies..
      I got off pill last November since then red flags went up into the ski! From hair loss to brown spots of melasma now my thinning of hair my hair used to teach my bottoms now it’s just Bettie my shoulders.. I’ll keep positive and stay off chemicals and follow your advice on a good diet I sure believe in.. thanks so much for sharing all the great info!!

      • July 5, 2017 By Nat Kringoudis 8:33 pm

        I’m here to help x

        • February 8, 2018 By Broken 6:44 pm

          I only took one mobic 15 mg. Six weeks later, my hair is half what it was. My eyebrows are thinking to. I’m so scared,and miserable. When will it stop? How much more loss? When will it come back? I am super depressed.

          • February 13, 2018 By Nat Kringoudis 5:51 pm

            It’s a very tricky one – it would be a good idea to see a practitioner who can assist in looking at this from a wholistic perspective.

  • August 5, 2013 By bree 10:19 am

    Hi Nat, thanks for the great post.

    I have been off the pill for 10 months now (after about 10yrs) and it was the best thing I ever did – after 2 months I felt like a new woman, the way I was supposed to feel. I started clean eating, juicing and felt amazing, not to mention had a regular 27 day cycle.

    I got married about 3 months ago and just prior my cycle changed to about 23 days. I thought a little added stress around the wedding was the cause and it would settle down again once everything was back to normal. However, within two weeks of the big day, my skin started to dry out, was flaking and had broken out in red pimply rash around my jaw area.

    I tried everything – was it products, diet, added stress – I tried changing everything and nothing worked.

    So I visited my naturopath and she put me on a 6 week Metagenics detox, with a liver friendly diet. During this time I was moody, down, and just didn’t feel myself. I also experienced a mild anaphylaxis reaction to food for the first time ever. She said the moods were normal and not to worry, however I decided to stop half way through the detox as it wasn’t the right time, nor felt like it was the solution.

    Reading your article today and seem to be doing all the right things to balance hormones, maca, coconut oil, a balanced diet, regular exercise and sleep yet not seeing any improvements in my cycle nor my skin! I’m really not too sure where to go from here!?!

    • August 6, 2013 By mnfadmin 6:55 am

      Hmmm – the detox didn’t sound right for you! It’s so difficult for me to advise without seeing you. My inclination would be you really need to see somebody specifically to naturally rebalance your hormones and work on both your thyroid and adrenals. Emotional health is also a big factor too. x

  • August 5, 2013 By Sarah 10:30 pm

    So what should you do if you have to much androgens? I had my hormones tested because I didn’t get my period for 3 months after I came off the pill, had terrible moodswings and hirsutism (hair growth in male pattern). All that they found was that I had elevated prolactin, but not enough to worry about according to the endocrinologist. PCOS was also ruled out. So here I am, with terribly irregular periods, weird gastritis-ish symptoms before my ovulation, hair in places I’ve never had hair before and my boobs have disappeared. I know I’m producing too much male hormones, but I really don’t know what to do about it. I’ve even considered adding phytoestrogens into my diet for balance, but all I’ve ever heard about soy etc is that the estrogen-mimicking effects are detrimental for your health. Do you have any tips on lowering the production of male hormones? Thanks so much. x

    • December 20, 2014 By Joana 4:39 am

      Hello Sarah,
      I know this is an old post but I really would like to know how you’re doing? I relate to everything that happened to you and I’m also having some difficulties to balance things.

      Thank you very much x

  • February 23, 2014 By Amanda 3:47 pm

    I went off the pill 12 months ago and for the last 6 months I have been experiencing this hair loss you’re talking about. I am happy to pay for your help!

  • March 11, 2014 By Nicole 3:07 pm

    I’ve been off birth control for 4 months now( after being on it for seven solid years). And I now noticing hair loss which seems to have started quite suddenly just last week and extremely dry skin. Starting the list of seven things ASAP, any other essential vitamins/minerals that you would suggest to start?? I currently take a multi and folic acid

  • March 11, 2014 By Leah 3:14 pm

    Hi Nat,

    Thank you for your awesome, down-to earth blogs. Your writing has a way of relieving anxiety!

    I have been seeing a Naturopath for a year dealing with major life stresses in 2013 (mother being terminally ill, wedding, new job, low ferritin for 8 years – all which led to hair loss) and to get my body better supported while ON the BC pill. She suggested I take:

    -fish oil

    -vitamin B6 complex

    -prenatals

    -vitamin C

    -magnesium citrate

    -iron (went from ferritin of 24 to 100 and counting!)

    -adrenal support tablets

    -spirulina

    -maca powder (every 2-3 days)

    All my supplements are high-quality and I typically follow a dairy and gluten free diet. The good news: since my ferritin hit around 60-70 my hair has been growing in like crazy – literally twice as thick as before! I am obviously very happy about this and attribute 90% of it to taking the iron and also from reducing stress through the fall. Cutting it into a bob only enhances how much thicker it is now!

    However, I have just stopped the BC pill 1 month ago and now I am terrified of losing my hair all over again. My question is this: if i have been supporting my body with the above for a lengthy period of 1 year, do you think the changes of me losing my hair (through a bout of Telogen Effluvium (again! 🙁 ) and getting acne, which I have never had previously) is LESS likely? I have read that a lot of women lose hair and get acne after stopping the pill but of course there is never much info about what was being done to help support the body + hormones through the process.

    Your input would be appreciated!

    Thanks!

    • March 11, 2014 By mnfadmin 8:33 pm

      I’ve learnt that if you start to put in the hard work whilst on OCP the symptoms are far less – not to mention that you need to do this diligently once you stop too.
      The other key thing to consider is gut health. Do you have my Debunking Ovulation ecourse/download? I think you’d love it! x

  • May 9, 2014 By michelle 10:53 pm

    You mentioned “maca” and I’ve also seen it mentioned on other similar sites..I was just wondering what type and form of maca I should take!? I’ll be getting off BCp in a few weeks and wanted to start whatever I could before hand so the hair loss,acne ect. Doesn’t start!

  • July 24, 2014 By Ari 11:35 pm

    Hi! I recently went off tricyclen (3 months ago) and have noticed a lot of hair loss. It’s quite scary to be honest. I see a naturopath and she’s had me on vitex to help balance my hormones, I have been on vitex about four months, I did stop taking it about a month ago because I wanted to try to get pregnant and I have been getting my periods since isotopes the pill (they are very light, but they are there :-)). I started back up on vitex for the time being because obviously my body is still going through an adjustment. Just wondering how long does this hair loss last and how much hair will I lose, it’s stressing me out a lot!!

    Thanks.

  • July 29, 2014 By Nicole 4:27 am

    Great article! I have experienced excessive hair loss after switching to Mircette from Beyaz four months ago. I am actually surprised I tolerated the other side effects for a full seven years. The doctors and dermatologist of course will not admit the hair loss is even related to the pills. All I was offered was a higher estrogen pill and Rogaine.

    In desperation I stopped taking my pills three days ago. I am relieved but also terrified of losing more hair. I am taking maca, coconut oil and a prenatal. Also, eating gluten and dairy free. What else can I do to keep the very few hairs I have?

  • August 18, 2014 By Kimberly 12:54 am

    Sorry, typo, that was thanks so much 🙂

  • September 18, 2015 By Lilian 6:38 pm

    Did the hair ever come back or at least part of it? how many years did it take? I feel hopeless about my hair. I lost 2/3 of my hair because of the pill and even though my period has come back, the estrogens are still ridiculously low.

  • November 5, 2015 By Heather 5:05 pm

    I am so frustrated with doctors for not advising me to get off BC earlier. I have been off for 6 months now, because my husband and I decided to start trying for a family. I went to my doctor within the first 3 months of no menstruation, and she to me to come back to her after 6 months. Welp, 6 months later… still nothing. I had started taking “Calm” magnesium a few months ago (and have taken prenatal vitamins for a while now), but just stumbled across this blog… I am going to start all of these!! I have great fat levels (59-65g/day, with a 2300 cal diet) but I am pretty lean from exercise (bike commuter 12mi/day, and maybe 45-60mins of weight lifting 6days/week)… I am worried this could be contributing to the problem. More food? Less exercise? This process is so confusing.

  • December 12, 2015 By Ruby 7:18 am

    Hi Nat,
    I have just recently (5-6 weeks ago) stopped taking the pill after 8 years of being on it. I have also just competed in a fitness bikini competition which can have a huge effect on hormones, stress and health with strict dieting and exercise up until the show. I am really trying to focus on my health as I realise the importance of it and have realised how much I have abused my body in my past. I have switched to a plant based diet and already my mood is more positive, my energy levels have increased and my digestive system is getting better. But in the past week my hair has been falling out in handfuls. I have relatively thick hair to begin with but in this past week I feel I have lost atleast 1/4 and I’m scared it is going to keep going. I found this article and really related. I am just wondering how long this will keep going and how much is expected to be lost? It daunts me to think I will go bald or have irreversible effects as I used to love my long, think healthy hair!
    Thanks Nat, I absolutely love your posts.

    • December 22, 2015 By Nat Kringoudis 11:31 pm

      Hey Ruby – it can be really difficult to answer this without seeing you or knowing more about your constitution. What I can say is that small amounts of animal proteins can be a saviour in balancing hormones. Whilst you can continue to live predominantly plant based, including means for the benefits of the amino acids they contain may be a big factor in your instance. Thanks for your comment – I love it! x

  • January 29, 2016 By Shelly 7:31 am

    I am SO late to the party but so glad I found this blog! I stopped taking the pill after being on it for 10 years right before my wedding. We have waited patiently to get married and start a family. My periods came back fairly normal (35ish days between them) then I noticed the severe hair loss and just had a very irregular cycle. Went to my OBGYN and got my levels tested, and I am at a TSH level of 5, considered high for the thyroid hormone. My primary diagnosed me with “borderline hypothyroidism” and sent me on my way with a prescription for thyroid medication (more synthetic hormones). I am a holistic health specialist myself and eat extremely well, take care of myself etc.

    When I asked both my OBGYN and primary if coming off the birth control pill has anything to do with this imbalance of hormones they both said NO. Futhermore, after my primary prescribed me thyroid medication after sitting with me for a total of 3 minutes, I asked her if there is anything else I can be doing to help my thyroid other than medication. She told me, “Diet and exercise will not have any effect on your thyroid activity”. Needless to say, I am not rushing to the pharmacy for the drugs since I want nothing to do with them. I have an appointment with an integrative physician next week for a second opinion. I fully believe that all of this imbalance is a result of my body trying to readjust naturally after being pumped with synthetic hormones for so long (if only I knew then what I know now!).

    • February 1, 2016 By Nat Kringoudis 9:43 pm

      Shelly – there is SO much you can do, in fact it is absolutely what we do each day that makes all the difference. You might like to check out my Debunking your Thyroid ecourse – http://www.debunkingyourthyroid.com x

  • March 16, 2016 By Deb 8:35 pm

    Thank you for your great article . I am being forced off my BCP cause of blood clot and age after 8 years. I am very sad because last time I stopped, I lost 30% of my hair and just now getting it normal . I suspected My hair was thinning from the BCP anyway, so I guess for it to eventually grow back thicker would be nice. I’m suppose to get married this year and as vain as it sounds I am very motivated to do everything you suggested as well as going grain and dairy free. I bought a ” laser cap” that is suppose to work wonders for women but the jury is still out on it. My concern too is the blood thinners they have me on since the clot and Im suppose to be on for three months. Any advice to counter side effects that won’t counter the therapy itself ?

    • March 20, 2016 By Nat Kringoudis 8:56 pm

      Hey deb – look into foods that are useful to thin blood and Himalayan salt – I know there have been several studies using salt to thin the blood with wonderful success.

  • May 18, 2016 By Em 7:11 am

    Like many of you I have come of the pill (Yasmin), having decided in December to stop after 11 years(!) and feeling now was the right time. As a result, 2016 has been really quite awful so far… no periods, highly emotional, spots, oily skin, and for the last few months an unbelievable amount of hair loss. It’s so distressing how many handfuls of hair is still coming out, I’m surprised I have any left! I’ve seen doctors, had blood tests all of which have said I’m ‘within normal ranges’ and to ‘wait it out’. The only thing a trichologist noticed was that my iron levels were low so I’m now on Ferrous Sulphate daily. I’m desperate for some reassurance that my hair will stop shedding and grow back and that I’ll finally start to feel normal… I’ve taken advice from all the other posts and I guess it’s good to know it isn’t just me feeling like this, but I need to know this won’t continue much longer…..

    • June 9, 2016 By Sarah Johnson 7:02 am

      I originally stopped taking bc pills back in May 2015 after being on them for 20+ years. I went on the pill in my teens. Hairloss hit about 2-3 mos after stopping the pill. Jumped back on the pill from October – January with no notice of improvement and have now been off permanently since January ..so almost 5 mos. I’m going on almost of year of shedding. I can’t stand it. I feel like i’ve lost over half my hair and I cut it short which helped a little. Seen dermatologists who did biopsy and say Telegen effluvium. ..gynecologist wasn’t much help and now i’m paying crazy amounts of money seeing a hormone replacement doctor who has me on a ton of supplements natural progesterone and i’m supposed to be on a gluten and dairy free diet. My DHT levels were high and my ferritin was 34. I go back next month for more testing after bring on supplements for 3 mos. I just want this shedding to stop and am not sure how much longer I can deal w this. Part of me wants to go back on the pill. My hairloss is greatest right around my period but sometimes it’s the entire month. I just feel like my body cannot handle the hormone fluctuations. Help! When will the shedding stop?

      • July 3, 2016 By Nat Kringoudis 9:06 pm

        Keep working on your gut, it’s a must. How long this takes will differ for everybody but once you’re on the right track, the results are almost immediate x

      • January 1, 2019 By Sal 5:18 pm

        Hi there, came across this after two years as I’m going through this and apparently you don’t really know how many others have gone or going through crap like this until you start looking at the blogs.

        My story is that I have been on the pill for 11 years for the purpose of clear skin and to be honest it made a huge change as far as my skin condition and overall self esteem as a female. ( Went from disgusting face to ‘ohh you had acne?’ questions) so fast forward today, after years of taking the pill thought I would finally stop taking them: stopped for a month and went on it after a month bec my face started to break out and oil production was just beyond normal. I would have never thought that I would loose 2/3 of my hair in a month and a half… I’m still shading hair although went straight back on the pill. Not sure WTH I got myself into but was wondering if you see this message maybe you can reply back and let me know how life has been for you? Many thanks and happy 2019.

      • February 4, 2019 By Chelsea duffy 2:53 am

        Hi I am going through a similar situation trying to decide whether I should go back on yaz birth control or not I’ve been off for 5 months and shedding continues – can you please let me know how things ended up for you

    • July 10, 2016 By Kaz 6:06 am

      Em, I read your post and had to reply to you as it is like reading something I’d written having experienced the exact same thing! I came off Yasmin after 10 years in Dec 15 and started to become very unwell with awful headaches, anxiety, palpitations, waking in the night etc in Jan. The hair loss started in Feb and the headaches got worse particularly in the morning and evening. I had to be signed off work for months the head pain was so bad, I had brain MRI and even a lumber puncture which is not nice! In April I said that as I’d still had no period since coming off on Dec I wanted my hormones checked, which they did reluctantly and Doc said they were all fine. My Doc also said that my lack of periods was down to stress as I was going through redundancy which I adamently denied as I wanted to leave- I was stressed by this point but only because I was in so much pain and convinced I must have a degenerative disease.
      By June 16 with still no sign of a period and still off work with crippling migraines, hair still falling out, emotions all over the place I thought I’m taking matters into my own hands, convinced it was due to coming off the pill. I took my blood test results to an endocrinologist specialising in female health and she spotted straight away that my oestrogen was 150 pmol which is normal but for a 60 year old woman after the menopause! For a 30 yr old it should be between 1000-1500, so the pill had overly suppressed my ovaries and my body was not yet capable of making its own oestrogen, therefore plunging me into having acute menopause symptoms. When I confronted my Doc about why the desperately low oestrogen was missed he admitted that most docs don’t know anything about hormones- brilliant! I am now on HRT patches under the care of the enocrinolist, just to stop the debilitating head pain and awful mood swings, just so I can get my life back to some degree and then they will wean me off the patches when my FSH level has lowered. The FSH (folical stimulating hormone) is the indicator of when your ovaries have recovered enough from the artificial BC suppression to start making their own again- mine is currently 12.5 and it needs to be under 5. I also had low iron (must be because the pill stops you absorbing nutrients?) so I’m taking ferrouros fumerate as you need your ferritin levels to be over 100 for good hair growth endo told me.
      So please get a female health specialist/ endo to interpret your hormone blood results- best thing I ever did. And my hair shedding has just slowed down now (July) and it started in Jan. Low oestrogen is the cause I am told.
      All the best. So thankful for forums like this so we can share info.

      • July 23, 2016 By Nat Kringoudis 11:53 am

        I’m so sorry you had to go through this but your experience is something you can teach so many others in the same position about. I’d love to share your story. Would you mind? Thank you so much for sharing here. x

      • August 1, 2016 By Kaz 1:10 am

        Hi Nat, yes – I’d love you to – the more people I can help with my story the better. It was honestly the worst, most traumatic experience of my life because the medical professionals I trusted had no clue what was wrong with me and I want to help as many people as I can avoid going through the same thing. Let me know if you need any more info or just let me know when it’s up 🙂 K x

        • September 3, 2016 By Nat Kringoudis 7:12 am

          Awesome thank you for being so kind – I think it’s really important! x

    • August 28, 2017 By Stephie 12:02 am

      Hi Em! Not sure if you’re still keeping up with this blog. I’m currently going through something very similar to what you described. Stopped my pill Mid May 2017 after being on it for about 10 years. Mid July my hair started shedding like crazy. I’ve lost half my hair or more! Barely have a ponytail anymore, when I leave if down it’s super thin and stringy. I looked at a picture of me from beginning of July and cried. My hair has changed so drastically. I’ve purchased about 20 different bottles of shampoos and several supplements.
      I’ve been seen by my gyno who says this happens, it will grow back. Went to family Dr. I had blood tests done for thyroid, iron and testosterone which all came back normal. My periods are also normal and have come exactly when they are supposed to since stopping pill. Have you recovered? I feel so helpless and need to talk to someone who has been through this. I’m terrified this will continue and I will go bald.
      Thank you.

      • August 9, 2018 By Tammy 2:26 pm

        Just wondering if it ever got better for you? I have been off birth control for a year now and my hair has thinned by more than half. It’s awful and very upsetting. I’m jeep hoping for the best but it just keeps gettinng worse…is there light at the end of this tunnel?

        • September 27, 2018 By Nat Kringoudis 2:08 am

          Oh gosh Tammy, I’m sure you’re not alone. I think hairloss definitely can get the better of us! Sorry that you’re going through this.

        • June 27, 2019 By Melissa 5:20 am

          Tammy, I hope things have started to improve for you. I tried to discontinue birth control twice for 9 months each, and the hair loss never leveled out, so I ended up going back on it. 🙁 I’ve been on it for over 20 years now and feel so defeated to ever get off. I wish they didn’t prescribe this so “willy nilly” to women! I guarantee you if there were a pill that regulated (and messed with) male hormones in this same manner, it would not be prescribed nearly as freely.

          • July 13, 2019 By Nat Kringoudis 11:31 am

            I’m so sorry – this is just so unfair.

      • January 1, 2019 By Sal 5:29 pm

        Hi there, do you have any updates? Just turned 2019 and just now I’m coming across the threads that explained my current desperation, my case is exactly like yours. Thanks -Sal

      • February 4, 2019 By Chelsea Duffy 2:55 am

        I am going through the same exact thing was there any update on your situation? Please email me if you can

  • August 14, 2016 By Lauren 5:03 pm

    What a fantastic article. I’ve been searching for answers on why my hormones are all whacky. I came off the pill about 7-8 months ago and was slammed by symptoms – hyperpigmentation and now hair loss. On top of it, I’ve got a really good exercise regime and a great diet but just don’t seem to be shifting any kgs. Thank for your commonsense approach and help. I will give Maca powder and a few of the other mentioned supplements a crack. Keep up the great work.

  • August 19, 2016 By Roxanne 3:51 am

    Hi Nat,
    Thank you for making this post. The last few years have been a rollercoaster ride for me and reading your post gives me hope. I was on OrthoTriCyclen BCP for years but starting about a year ago my body just began to reject it. I was feeling tired, headaches, stomach pain and worst of all…. recurrent yeast infections. Went to the gyno who insisted it wasn’t due to the pill and switched me to a different pill… Still, what do you know? Yeast infection after yeast infection to the point that I was using Boric Acid weekly to try to live a somewhat normal life. I was depressed and confused. After spending what felt like an eternity researching online, I read other folks stories and realized it may be due to the BCP so that day I quit cold turkey. It took about a month of being off the pill for me to start feeling better. All of my symptoms subsided including my chronic yeast infections!! I have been YI free for 4 months and couldn’t be happier… Well, that was until my hair started falling out. It keeps getting thinner and thinner and the texture has changed. I have not had a period since coming off the pill and I am not pregnant — I suspect my hormones are still out of whack?? Hoping for a miracle here as the last thing I want to do is go back to the gyno who will just want to put me back on meds 🙁 Any suggestions?? I am using maca podwer and flax seeds in my breakfast and supplementing with evening primose oil and a hair skin and nails pill. Any help?? Anyone ?? XO

    • October 2, 2016 By Nat Kringoudis 8:13 pm

      I LOVE this story – thank you so very much for sharing. Well done for listening to your intuition to really get to the bottom of your health issues. It’s a very special thing to be able to follow. NK

  • August 28, 2016 By Margarete Carneiro 11:39 am

    Hello everyone,

    I wanted to share my experience with excessive hair loss after stopping birth control as it may give you hope that you can have a happy ending as I did.

    I started using birth control pills when I was a teenager to control my severe acne. I started using a pill called DIANE 35 and the results at my skin were amazing. However, every time I tried to stop this pill the acne would come back in a few weeks and I could not handle that emotional stress so I ended up taking this pill for decades. A few years ago, my gynecologist suggested a pill with less hormones and I switched to it. It’s called GIANVI. The results on my skin were similarly good, but when I tried to stop this pill I noticed an excessive amount of hair shedding. I panicked and went back to the pill after a couple attempts to stop.

    My desire to stop the pills never went away though as I became more conscious that I wanted to be as natural as possible, also I was already in my mid-40s so hopefully by now the acne would not come back, and my lifestyle in general had improved over the years so I thought I would have a better chance of controlling my hormonal swings with what I call “natural remedies” (daily physical activity outdoors to get fresh air and sun light, a plant-based nutrition, abundant water, at least 7 hours of sleep, and trust in God).

    What happened next I consider a miracle, as I would have not thought of this idea if it were not for God impressing me to try this. I had one box left of the DIANE 35 and I had run out of the GIANVI. However, I had not taken the DIANE 35 in years so there was no reason to go back on a higher hormonal dose pill, as I could just go to the pharmacy and get a refill of the other one. My reasoning was to not waste that box of DIANE 35 so I went back on it, but then I thought why don’t I try to stop taking the pills again? I was fearful at first as my previous experiences were not good with a lot of hair shedding and my hair is already thin so that made me very self-conscious and uncomfortable. At that time I was in a relationship with a guy that was encouraging me to stop the pills and he said even if I became bald he would still love me. I have to say that support was very helpful. In addition to that, I had started praying for God’s intervention too. I even said, “God, I will trust that even if I loose a lot of hair, you can give me every single one back, but if possible, please help me not to go through that experience again as I don’t have much hair to lose”.

    I remembered Bible texts like: “But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.” Luke 12:7
    “But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
    In your patience possess ye your souls.” Luke 21:18-19 (the context here is of God promising to protect His people from being destroyed when persecution arises at the end of times, right before Jesus comes back to this Earth, but nonetheless it shows the power of God to protect even the hair in our heads.
    My experience with stopping the pills this last time has been very successful. I also stopped dying my hair so that may have helped as well. The shedding seems to be a bit more than when I was on the pill (mainly noticeable when I’m washing my hair, which I typically do every other day), but it is nothing like the shedding I experienced when I tried to stop the GIANVI. Maybe it was a combination of a higher dose pill taking longer to clear from my body as my own hormone kicked in to substitute for it, a healthier lifestyle, and my faith in the power of God to help me in this journey.

    I’m a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist so I’m always studying the properties of foods, and through my research I’ve found that consuming daily small amounts of nuts and seeds (I make my own “cheese” spread out of raw cashews) and avocado, versus refined fats (as in oils, margarine, mayo, etc), as well as consuming organic soy products have helped as soy have phytoestrogens that resemble the estrogen our bodies produce, so I think it has helped to regulate my hormones.

    I don’t follow the plan of eating all the time as suggested in this article, as I believe the digestive system gets overloaded. I only eat three meals a day (even skipping dinner some days if it is too close to bed time, and there is research to support the health benefits of that, and I can share with you guys if anyone is interested). I eat whole plant-based foods from the following groups: whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, avocados, beans or legumes, and soy products. I don’t consume animal products and I think that has helped regulate my hormones as well, as the mass production of meat, eggs, and dairy involves the use of hormones and antibiotics, which are not health promoting to us at all. I also try to cook my own food as much as possible and include more raw foods daily. Now, I’m starting another trend to plant some of my foods. I don’t have a yard, so I’m using pots and placing them on the porches that I have.

    We also need to reason that we tend to lose a little bit of hair over the years as our hormones decline. I’m 44 years old and I don’t have as much hair as I used to when I was younger, but I learned to be content with what I have. I’m blessed with curly hair that picks up volume as it air dries, so it gives the illusion that I have at least twice as much hair as you can noticeably see I have when I straight my hair and is evident by the thickness of my pony tail.

    It is also important to consider the chemicals you put in your hair. I did a lot of harsh chemical treatments to lower the volume of my hair in my early 20s, and that for sure did a lot of damage. Then I started the highlights phase, and that moved to dying the entire hair, so more chemical aggression. A couple years ago I decided to stop all these chemical processing in the hair. I only have a few gray hairs, and thankfully they are strategically positioned so that you cannot see them so I can still enjoy my natural hair color. I’ve also started to observe some ladies with gray hair that looks very nice on them. It definitely requires a nice haircut, but it shows that it is a doable trend. I don’t judge those who dye their hairs because they feel uncomfortable with the gray, but it is good to consider that it is a chemical aggression that may affect the amount and quality of the hair, so look for more natural dyes if possible.

    Genetics will also play a role in the features we all have. Some are tall, some are short; some are black, some are white, and other colors in between. It is no different with hair: some will have more hair than others. It is a good exercise to learn to be content and work with what we have. Embrace the unique person you are. No other human being that ever lived and will ever live will have all the features you have. Make the most of what you have, and take care of your body so “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” I Corinthians 10:31

    Get to know your creator and learn from Him how to have an abundant life here in this Earth “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10, and learn how to prepare for eternal life as we will all face judgment by God to see who is fit for Heaven. Your Bible has all the answers on how to prepare for that, and the good news is it’s all based on love, so there is no need to fear the judgment of God, but there are criteria based on the love of God that we have to follow to become citizens in Heaven.
    There is a wonderful website I encourage you to explore if you are not already in a spiritual journey: http://www.amazingfacts.org/

    “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” 3 John 2

    Blessings to all!

    Margarete Carneiro

  • October 17, 2016 By Maria Nicholson 3:13 am

    I am a 22 year old who went off of birth control after being on it for about a year. I was on Loestrin 1/20 which I believe thinned my hair a great deal already. That is part of the reason I stopped taking it, also because it was giving me horrible UTI’s that would never go away. I experienced hair shedding starting almost immediately after I stopped taking it (but I think that was leftover from the birth control itself). Now at about 2.5 months out I am pulling clumps out in the shower and when I brush my hair its heartbreaking. Its everywhere, all over my clothes all over my bathroom. I know that this is common but I am really looking for some hope. I used to have such beautiful thick hair and I’m scared to death of going bald at before I get married or do anything with my life. I eat a very healthy diet, exercise, take vitamins, fish oil and probiotics. My periods have come back regularly with no issues, so I thought that might mean the symptoms will be less for me.
    I don’t really know what I’m looking for other than some stories of hope rather than women losing their hair and never getting it back, just to get me through this period of shedding. Has anybody out their experienced this and come out on the other side with a full head of hair?

    • October 23, 2016 By Nat Kringoudis 12:06 pm

      Maria I think a great place to start is your gut health and vitamin and mineral stores. Gelatin, pro-biotic, quality multi vitamin and fish oil x

    • July 6, 2017 By Alexandra 5:08 am

      Hey there,

      Just wanted to see if you have any updates on your story. I’m 24 and going through pretty much the exact same thing, except I’m still not getting my periods (I’ve been off the pill for about 3+ months now). I’d really love to know if you’ve learned anything more from all this. It’s such a hard thing to go through and I have the EXACT same fears as you. 🙁

      • July 12, 2017 By Nat Kringoudis 3:15 pm

        I understand 3 months may feel like an eternity! But in the scheme of things, 3 months isn’t too long. If you can ensure you are doing the right things to support your body, it will return. Ensure that you are first up looking after your gut and your liver – this is a great starting point. You might like today’s blog post!

    • May 29, 2018 By jemima isabella hook 6:11 pm

      im 22 and the same thing is happening to me its heart breaking. has your hair stopped shedding? feel free to add me on facebook to talk, my name is jemima hook 🙂

    • January 1, 2019 By Sal 5:40 pm

      Hi Maria, it’s horrible that you went through this from only being on the pill for a year I have be on it for 9 to 10 years stopped for a month and went back on it freaked out. I have lost most of.my hair still shading. Do you have any updates since I’m late to this blog. Thanks -Sal

  • December 5, 2016 By Lauren 5:27 am

    Hello!

    Hello! Love this article. Unfortunately I can relate. I’m a 23 year old woman and I’ve been off of birth control since August after taking it for almost 5 years, and have been losing hair much more lately. I also went to go get a full blood work panel done with hormones and nutrient deficiencies. They say my thyroid is fine, but I’m very low in iron. I’ve just started taking a whole list of supplements that I’ve found by doing my own research. They are:

    Fish oil
    Bison liver (for iron)
    Betaine HCL
    biotin
    B complex
    Evening primrose oil
    Vitamin C
    Magnesium

    Besides the magnesium, I’m taking all of these vitamins in the morning with breakfast. Is there a better way to take vitamins to get all of the benefits? Would you recommend a pattern like a month on, week off system? I’m just trying to do everything I can to help my hair. Also trying to keep stress down but it’s so hard! Being a graduate student is the worst sometimes. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you 🙂

  • January 18, 2017 By Susan 3:53 am

    My 15 year old daughter was placed on the pill due to her not having a period. She only took them for a month before I really did my research and found out all the side effects. Since she was only on them for a month, will she still have the hair loss? Her hair is thin already. I feel like a terrible mother.

    • April 18, 2017 By Desiree 11:35 pm

      Susan,
      It breaks my heart that you feel like a terrible mother for this! You were trying to help your daughter. A doctor should be informing you and your daughter the side effects, it shouldn’t be something that comes as a surprise later on. So, don’t blame yourself or feel guilty.
      That being said, I really doubt she’s going to have many side effects (if any). I feel as though these symptoms are especially severe if you’ve been on the pill for YEARS like me and others. It’s been a couple months since you’ve commented, I hope it turned out okay!

      • April 27, 2017 By Nat Kringoudis 2:35 pm

        Absolutely agreed. We know what we know until it doesn’t serve us and then we grow. I think it’s important always recognise we are doing our best too. Sending love. x

  • May 12, 2017 By SUSAN VAN WELIE 4:02 pm

    i am 75 have been taking estrofem for the last 30 years and now have stopped but my hair is thinning out at an alarming rate

    • May 24, 2017 By Nat Kringoudis 3:04 pm

      Eeep – yes I think this is the issue when medications take their toll on our gut health.

  • June 16, 2017 By Sarah 3:48 pm

    Hi Nat.
    I have been on the pill for 17 years. I was on Diane and then changed to Yasmin and I have been on Yaz for the last four years. I have recently been diagnosed with female pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia). The dermatologist wants to keep me on the pill and also include a compounded tablet of 50mg spirolactone and .5 minoxodil as well as some vitamins including zinc and iron.
    All of my levels are “normal” except I have a high insulin reading of 13 (I believe this is insulin resistance).
    What do you recommend I do?
    I really really don’t want to keep taking these meds but feel that this is the only option as going off the pill will only cause more hair loss and as my folicles are miniaturized the hair won’t grow back!!

    • July 5, 2017 By Nat Kringoudis 8:34 pm

      I’ve just seen this now! <3 Sending love, I know you are on the right track now xo

    • October 16, 2018 By PJ 1:36 am

      Hey Sarah,

      I am literally going through the exact same thing right now. My derm said it’s androgenetic alopecia but I have no family history of pattern hair loss (not even the men). I’m freaked out too that it’ll never come back because of miniaturization. My doctors don’t want to tell me its related to going off the pill (I had been on Azurette for the past 7 years until this past June). However, i can’t think of any other reason my hair would just start falling out… I’ve been on rogaine and spiro for a little over a month now. It’s really hard to judge how the progress has been so far but cutting my hair has definitely helped with the shedding. All I know is I was certain I’d be bald at this point but i’m not so there is hope. Granted, I’m still really devastated. Next step for me will be trying to balance my hormones even though I’m “perfectly healthy”.

  • June 29, 2017 By Rachel 1:02 am

    Hi all! It’s so comforting to know that I am not the only one experiencing hair loss.

    My story is that I was on birth control for a number of years. I stopped it about 3 years ago and that’s when the hair loss began. I have seen the dermatologist twice since then. First diagnosis: telogen effluvium. Second diagnosis: chronic telogen effluvium. Treatment recommended was Rogaine. So I used it for about a year with success and then decided to go off of it (in part because my partner and I were briefly trying to have a baby). I then lost the regrowth which was expected. I then consulted a naturopath because I wanted to fix the root of the problem. Problem is, we have been unable to find a problem. All of my bloodwork has come back normal. It seems that I am likely suffering from female pattern hair loss (my genetics prove this is probable) that was triggered by the cessation of the pill. The stress in my life is also a contributing factor. A factor that I unfortunately can’t control besides “trying to relax”. Various tinctures and supplements have made little to no difference. I am now going through another big shedding period.

    So….with my wedding coming up in 7 months, I think I’m going to go back on the Rogaine. I know it works, and it does a lot to boost my self-esteem. Only kicker is that I know we will be trying for a baby again right after my wedding. So I hesitate to put myself through this cycle. However, we all know there seems to be nothing worse when you look in the mirror and see your scalp.

    Does anyone have a story similar to mine? After 3 years of this, I feel it is getting unlikely that my hair loss is going to resolve itself.

    • July 5, 2017 By Nat Kringoudis 8:32 pm

      I’d love to help! Androgenic related hair loss really comes back to regulating testosterone. I’m keen to support you further and we have great results in clinic without the nasty side effects x

      • July 25, 2017 By Rachel 10:59 pm

        Hi Nat!

        I have had my bloodwork done a couple of times and nothing seems to be out of whack with my testosterone. Where is your clinic located? What kind of treatments does your clinic offer?

        • August 13, 2017 By Nat Kringoudis 9:15 pm

          Would love to help – we are in Melbourne at The Pagoda Tree. Give us a call and we can help you further indeed – can’t wait to assist you further. x

  • March 21, 2018 By Claire 11:12 pm

    Hello Nat,

    Great article. Ive just stopped taking the pill and my hair is shredding like nothing on earth! To cut a long story short I was diagnosed with PCOS a while ago now, after getting a bald patch etc. Id only discovered this after stopping the pill. The doctors put me on metformin which caused me a whole world of pain, so at a loss and very very clueless about PCOS and nutrition I went back on the pill.
    Im a healthy size 8-10 (im now 30) and again at a loss. Ive started researching this a little better and have started taking (get ready for the list)
    Vitamin D
    Pro biotics
    Fish oil Supplements
    along with a pre conception pill (im not trying for a baby but will be in the future)

    i have just ordered some berbertine and will soon start taking magnesium

    My diet is healthy, and i exercise daily – Ive only been off the pill for about 4 weeks. Do you think hair will re-grow once the pill is out of my system? Any help much appreciated

  • June 19, 2018 By Cynthia 6:27 am

    I appreciate this article and all of the comments! I am 41 years old, on levothyroxine for hypothyroid that presented when I was pregnant. I’ve been on birth control pills on and off over the past 15 years. I’ve been on them almost 4 years straight now and I’ve just recently realized all of the negative health associations! I’ve been trying to get my body as healthy as possible and feel the bc pill is holding me back. I also have high cholesterol and a family history of heart disease and blood clots. When I asked at my last doctor visit about the health risks of the pill I was told I could actually continue taking it until I turn 50!?!? I just don’t feel that is a good idea. I’m wondering if going off the pill could possibly help my cholesterol and thyroid problems?

  • June 26, 2018 By Jay 8:34 am

    Hi All,
    Hoping for a bit of timeline-insight….freaking out a bit. Had an appendectomy mid-March, after they found my appendix, 3 days after bursting, was terribly infected and I was septic. Quite the ordeal. While in the hospital they took me off the pill (after being on Marvelon for 16 years). I also have issues with my thyroid, and have been working on that for about 18 years, but recent changes in doses with the surgery caused TSH levels to spike and get out of control. Have elevated dose of thyroxin to try to get thyroid back in order, and am still off the pill (and plan to just stay off if I can!). My hair is shedding like crazy…in my hand, in my brush, in the shower….for about the last 2 weeks. When will it stop? I’m taking thyroid pills, probiotic, omegas, thyroid support with magnesium, selenium, zinc etc. Just got blood taken with my nturopath to check ferritin etc. Need some light at the end of the tunnel…..

    • July 8, 2018 By Nat Kringoudis 5:08 pm

      I would absolutely love to help you in the clinic. It’s so hard to give you solid and safe advice that is specific here but there is so much you can do. x

  • October 24, 2018 By Destiny 9:37 am

    I’m so scared, I’m only 22 and I had been on minestrin since I was 17. I’ve always had long thick curly hair but recently it’s thinned out to about half and I suspect it may be from the switch from minestrin to generic. I thought it was stress but im just so confused now and no one seems to have answers about why I keep loosing my hair.

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    • February 21, 2020 By Nat Kringoudis 10:29 am

      I’m so glad x

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