Depo Provera is making me go bald!!!!

All that you need to know and do about your hair loss.

Depo Provera is making me go bald!!!!

by Nell
(Peterborough, UK)

Depo Provera

I am 26 and I started using Depo Provera as a form of contraception back in March. About two months after the injection I noticed that my fringe was getting thinner and I just couldn't do anything with it, although it was frustrating I didn't really think that much of it and certainly didn't realize that I was losing my hair.

In June I had my next injection and this is where the fun began. By the end of the month almost my entire fringe had fallen out, I had to pull hair from the middle of my scalp and cut it in to a fringe. Then I noticed that the hair at the sides was starting to recede and a lot of hair was now coming out on my brush.

I made an appointment at my doctors and was sent for all of the usual tests (iron, thyroid etc) and they all came back fine.

By August I had lost so much hair I just didn't know what to do with it, it became so thin it was feeling more like fluff than real hair. I was starting to get hysterical I felt sick every time I thought about it (which seemed to be most of the time), and I would wake up in the night and just burst into tears.

I started to do a bit of research and found that Depo Provera could cause hair loss. I decided not to have the next injection. In September I went to see a trichologist and she told me I had Telogen Effluvium which was caused by stress, she said she thought it would start growing back within a month and that it was nothing to worry about.

I relaxed. I was so relieved and I did start to see some regrowth it looked like it might be thickening up again, I couldn't believe it, I was so happy I cried. Then a few weeks later it all started to fall again. It was everywhere all over my desk at work (and other peoples desks as well come to think of it), blocking up my plugholes at home and on nearly every item of clothing I owned, even after they had been washed.

My doctor then sent me to see a dermatologist. He told me that he thought it might be Alopecia Areata. I asked about the Depo injection and was told it could very likely be the cause and until it’s completely out of my system there is no way of knowing. I feel quite sure though that it was the cause, the timing certainly suggests it was.
At present I am still suffering from a lot of hair loss. My centre parting has started to look very wide and I am much receded. I wear my hair in a low ponytail everyday because it is so thin it looks awful and I get my husband to walk around me and make sure there are no bald patches showing, if there is he has to move some of the hair over them and spray it down.

I wish I had never had the Depo Provera injection and I will definitely never have it again. If I do ever get my hair back I will never take it for granted again. Hair is amazing it should be treasured!

Editor’s Comments

Dear Nell,

Sorry to hear about your condition with Depo Provera. There are a lot of contraceptive drugs and medications that can potentially cause hair loss. Depo Provera is a very common drug which carries this dreaded side effect. What you are having should be directly related to this drug because it usually fluctuate your hormones. Your body is also hammered trying to adapt to the changes and that is also another reason of stress.

Telogen Effluvium will usually continue well after you take this drug. That is because that the residue of this drug can stay in your body for 6 months after you stop taking. However, you should see reduced thinning after a while. I strongly suggest you stop worrying and start focusing on recovery. You might want to take some supplements and probably Viviscal to improve your hair. In the meantime, cutting your hair short can reduce the visibility of hair loss.

I am pretty sure that your hair will start to grow back after the effects of Depo Provera wears off, so cheer up!

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Depo Provera is making me go bald!!!!

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Jul 25, 2010
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any success stories yet for hair regrowth
by: singlemama123

I know i only posted on july 20 but has ANYONE had any success on hair regrowth after stopping depo or trying any supplements. I read somewhere that using rogaine, and biotin can help. ???? I cant remember where i heard it from. I noticed a significant difference from last weeks post on my hair loss. I feel like suing! 1 out of 5 people experience hair loss. It does not say, significant hair loss. The warning lables just write this off as just a possible side effect....

Jul 25, 2010
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Update on July 10, 2010 Post
by: mommy2010

After finding this website and realizing that the Depo is making me bald, i went on the search for a cure!! meanwhile it fades from my system which by researching i found out it could take 6-8 months or even longer, i bought these pills called Viviscal on amazon.com ive been taking them for 6 days and i honestly can say that not as much hair is falling out anymore, im still loosing hair but not as much as before. Its only been one month of hair loss and maybe they started working quickly because i acted quickly on getting something to reverse the problem (thats my theory) I also lost A LOT of hair on my hairline like i mentioned on my previous post i have to cover that part with the middle of my hair, and for that im using Monoxidil which is basically Rogaine and you put it directly on the scalp where you have hair loss. Well ladies its only been a week trying to reverse these devastating side effects from the Depo but im not giving up! & neither should you! ill keep you guys updated on how it goes with my hair treatments.

Jul 25, 2010
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Depo
by: Anonymous

So frustrated! I just got my third depo shot and finally relized that it was making my hair fall out. My hair is thinning from the top. Everytime I shower I got hair falling out. Thats not normal. I am so frustrated! I'm not taking depo again.

Jul 21, 2010
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Original Post: My Depo horror story 03/23/10
by: Anonymous

To the post on July 20th, NO, I have not regrown any hair back. I am taking pills from GNC and Herbalife pills and I still am having no luck with regrowing my hair. I finally have to face reality and stop hoping for a miracle. Good luck!

Not giving up on my pills, this is one battle that I will always try to fight and hopefully one day win.

Jul 20, 2010
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Losing too much hair
by: Singlemama123

First i swtiched from estro step to a slightly different pill-noticed a slight hair loss. Then, went on depo-provera, hair got greasy, skin got greasy, hair falling out. Acidic vaginal odor. Big pimples on back, neck! I went to a dermatologist and for 8 weeks i have to pick one day a week and not wash my hair for 48 hours and then wash it and count the hairs! There are way too many to count. My scalp burns, itches. My body aches worse than it ever has before. Harmful low levels of vitamin d! I am going to have to stop. But i will not ever go on this shot again.... HAS ANYONES HAIR GROWN BACK FROM THIS??

Jul 10, 2010
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DONT GET THE DEPO!!
by: mommy2010

i had my baby in April 2010 and then got the Depo shot in May 2010. My hair started to fall out a month after i got that damn shot...i would wash my hair in the shower and hand fulls of hair would fall out. At first i thought i was just stressed or not eating right, but after reading this story and all these comments i really believe its the Depo shot. Im loosing hair all over my head but especially in the front of my head, i now have receding hair and i have to cover it by parting the middle of my hair over it. I do cry every so often about it. I just try to use a really good shampoo & conditioner and take a multi vitamin to help my hair get stronger. I hope and pray that my hair and all of you lady's hair grows back. To any & every woman out there PLEASE, PLEASE dont get that damned Depo Shot.

May 25, 2010
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I think the depo is making my daughter bald!
by: Anonymous

My daughter is 15 and she started showing signs of being sexually active. I brought her to the dr and decided on the depo shot for her (because my first daughter used it for years and never had any problems)

Its been about 6 weeks since her shot. A couple days ago she asked me to die her hair... when she pulled her hair up, I was SHOCKED! I was in AWE! I couldn't believe that she has a bald spot the size of my fist! All above her ear to her temple, then back around toward her neck. She wears her hair pinned back in barretts behind her ear so not to show the balding.

I took her to the dr and she said it definatly wasn't from the depo shot and has ordered labs for her. After reading everyone's comments, I'm convinced. I think I'll hold off on the labs, and see what happens after stopping the depo.

Oh yeah, she also had a terrible period, is moody as heck, and has real bad hot spells. I feel bad for putting her on the shot.

May 04, 2010
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So i am not crazy!!!
by: Anonymous

Well. I had my son back in 1995. Four months after having him I decided to do the Depo. I always contributed my hair loss to having him. I started losing my hair!! I had such long, thick, beautiful hair. I have asked many of the doctors that I have seen over the years. Not one said my hair loss was due to the Depo. I even had one doctor tell me that hormones are all made up by drug companies. Well hear it is 10 years after stopping the Depo and I cry almost every time I look in the mirror. My hair has never grown back from it.I am 37 years old and I have a comb over. What is there to do? Is there any way of growing it back?

Apr 26, 2010
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omg! I thought tht i was the only one tht thought this
by:

I recently had a child n january 2010 and i got my first depo shot a few days after i had him. I didn't notice the hair loss until i got my 2nd shot n late march. I would comb my hair n find tht it would get so tangled easily and balls of hair would come out. I can jus run my fingers thru my hair and hair jus cums out. My hair has gotten so thin i hate it. My hair has always ben so thick and full and now its jus awful. As soon as my next shot i'm not gettin it again. I didn't kno tht it could cause hair loss and nobody attempted 2 tell me tht b4 i decided to strt takin it. So 4 those women out there who are thinkin of taking depo DON'T

Apr 25, 2010
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depo cozing me bad hair loss!!!
by: dianne jones

i first got the depo 2 weeks after having my daughter in 06, and after a week i noticed that, after the bath the bath would be full of hair, but i thought it was normal after just having my baby, but after a few months bald batches at the back of my head and on the top and sides, it affected me badley, the doc checked me for everything but nothing came back so he said that it must be my bodys way of dealing with stress, but i wasnt more stressed than i was before i had my baby then the depo, then i came off it for a year but my hair was still the same, then i fell with my son in 08 same again i got depo 2 weeks after birth, and my fiance noticed it getting worse, so i looked at these sites and was blown away with shock that its depo cozing this, so now ive been off it a month now and have a dermitoligist app in 6 weeks so fingers crossed he can tell me whats going on and what i can do to make it better but id strongly recomend NOT TAKING DEPO!!, im also seeking legal advice as all i wad told was id mabey put on weight or periods stop, nothing like losing your hair, and they cant turn aroung and say you should have read the paper inside the box considering once you pick it up you have to give it to the nurse closed to keep it sterile!!!

Apr 12, 2010
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Fellow baldie
by: Balding eagle

I am a mother of two. My children are ten years apart. After the second I didn't want to have anymore right away. With so much going on with the new baby I decided that the pill would be too much to keep track of so I took my doctors advice and got a depo shot. Two months later my pubic and underarm hair had disappeared! There were balls of hair in my comb and brushes. It could only be the shot I was eating health and felt rather good, just loosin hair. I never got that shot again and am still waiting on my hair to grow back. You are not alone!!!

Mar 23, 2010
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My Depo horror story
by: Anonymous

I have been off the depot shot for 8 years but was on it for 3 straight years, I noticed my hair was thinning at the top and my doctor told me it was my birth control. I stopped taking the depo shot but 8 years later I am still noticing hair loss. I am 33 and I am convinced I will be completely bald by 35. I have always had thin hair but my sister and best friend recently told me I am loosing a lot of hair. Please, please, please stop taking this birth control. At times, I am just in disbelief that I have lost so much hair and continue to loose hair. I recently started taking NuHair and am making an appointment to see a dermatologist. I am just keeping my fingers crossed that I can regain some of my hair back. Again, if you are taking this birth control, please please stop. I wish you all the best and will follow-up with all of you on my battle of regaining my hair.

Mar 18, 2010
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Just waiting for my hair to grow back
by: Anonymous

hey everyone i am 20 years old and ive been on the depo shot for alittle over a year now i didnt really notice my hair falling out until about a few months ago the back of my hair has always been short but i was nearly bald when i got a perm my hair was just coming out like it wont nothin. My mom den askd me was that a side effect from the shot and thats when it dawned on me that thats probly what is was. I told my friend about it and she said it was. I started using du grow on my scalp about twice a day and im starting to see some results slowly, my next shot isnt until next month but I wnt b getting anutha 1. Ive even cut my hair and it grew bac to the length it was or alittle longer all except the bac of my scalp.So hopefully my hair will grow bac and become healthy

Mar 02, 2010
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Since my first shot
by: FineMommy

I cant believe it! Following on my own hunch I figured the Depo was the reason. After having my third son everything was fine. I has the shot in October 2009. By Nomvember, I started to notice the hair in my comb/brush. By Xmas, it was all over the counter, my clothes I mean just running my finger thru, hair would come out. I never got another shot, and now have the Mirena and my hair is still falling and starting to get thin. Im so frustrated and dont know what to do!!!

Mar 01, 2010
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wtf
by: Carra

There should def be some type of coalition against this drug. Women need to band together and make some sort of group.. i would definently join!!! Other than the hair loss ive had major dehydration and fatigue, though my sex drive has came back:)Back to the hair-- the top is soo thin and i can see the white bulbs on each litle hair that comes out, the hairfall isnt only on the top but all around. This is evil!! anyway listen ladies, if the depo stores in the fat cells than we would need some sort of detox to get it out! i am now using niacin. niacin is the surest way to clear out your fat cells by enlarging arteries. its cheap and a natural nutrient found at the drug store. hopefully with this and some excercise ill see some changes

Feb 21, 2010
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OMG I can't beleive it could be the depo!
by: (BATTFB) Bald and trying to feel beautiful

I've been at my wits end. I started to notice my hair falling out in October. It was a few strands more than usual at first. Then it became more excessive quite rapidly. As it was at the sides I was able to cover it with the middle of my hair. Then it started to come out at the middle and the front. I was absolutely mortified. Went to the doctors. He immediately thought it was aloplecia, possible cause stress. Had every blood test possible, all came back clear. I had to accept it was a hard year...recession and it was just a phase! Now hearing the affects depo has had on others and looking at the dates I started taking it, it's looking quite positive the DEPO could be the cause. The nurse has never mentioned this as a side affect. I've just had another injection 1 month ago so it looks like I'll have a very long wait before I see any changes. Ladies please keep posting comments so I know I'm not alone on this journey. I know worse things can happen but damn, losing your hair is really tough. I'm now completely bald on both sides of my hair and have 3 bald patches in the middle and the front:-( I'll keep you guys updated.

Jan 16, 2010
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It takes time!
by: Becky

After almost two years, I still have the occasional episode of excess hairfall...I've read online in some medical journals that it can take up to 3 years to start showing regrowth and much longer to return to what you had originally. About a month ago I switched from the straight biotin supplement (1000 mcg/day) to GNC's Ultra Nourishair supplement (2400 mcg/day plus proteins and amino acids essential to hair growth) and its working much better. For the first time in forever my ponytail is getting thicker (slightly) rather than thinner. Check with your doctor, of course, but I highly recommend this vitamin. Also, Garner Fructis root booster gives much volume without the residue.

Jan 13, 2010
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Same boat too...
by: Nita

Yep!!!! After just getting 1 shot last June. I gained at least 20 pounds. And my hair is so thin and almost bald. I will never get that shot again. I thought "Oh 1 shot couldn't be that bad. But it was, I hope to get back to normal soon.

Dec 15, 2009
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hair loss
by: Malibu

I have been on depo provera for 16 years. I can see my scalp all over the top of my head my hair is extremely thin. I was never warned about all the side effects of depo. I recently went to a dermatologist and he told me depo causes hair loss due to it having a high androgen index. I am afraid to stop because I have had a few friends that stopped taking depo that had taken it as long as I did and they ended up having to have hysterectomies.

Dec 03, 2009
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Me too!
by: Malory

I am 19 and had started depo around october of 2008 and used to have average fine hair type. (Not that thick) I used depo for nine months then decided to switch to Mirena. I switched because I also had some side effects from depo including:
-Anxiousness/nervousness
-Constant mood swings
-stomach pains
-Increased appetite/weight gain
-And of course, the dreaded, thinning hair.

I have only been off depo for around 3 months and haven't noticed any change in my thinning hair. It has only been getting worse and I have gotten to the point where I just stare sadly into the mirror. I thought about making a hair appointment to get highlights to add dimension and make it appear thicker... but I just cancelled because I think it'll still be too thin.

I think I will check into that diatin supplement a previous poster mentioned.

Nov 10, 2009
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depo is a desease!
by: Ananymous

my first shot of depo was last year on december 19, my doctors appointment is tomorrow and i am NOT getting that shot! i was diagnosed t the age of ten with osteopenia even though my bone density is back up i have to come off depo because its now at a low level again, not only that but my hair is falling out!!! if oyu have ever seem the film the craft you'd soon understand how bad it was falling out! i am nearing 17 years old and i'm practically bald, plus out of the 11 months on depo i've been on my period for 10 months. i talked to the nurse who gives me the shot about it... she shrugged it off AFTER she gave me my next shot! i'm through with this disease, my acne has multiplied tremendously, i get migranes, horrible cases of sour stomach, and my mood swings are insane! i'll admit i've been cold and heartless to my boyfriend of 17 months and we've NEVER argued before these shots! i would never reccomend depo nor would i ever tough it with a 39 and a half foot pole! NO ONE SHOULD TAKE THIS PESTILENCE!

Sep 01, 2009
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Will it grow back?
by: Rach

I came off Depo June 08, mainly because I had put on weight and felt it had affected my sex drive, since coming off it I have really noticed how thin my hair has got, mine is all across the front, the sides are receding and the front is getting thin as well, I can really see my scalp, the more I think about it the more it makes me miserable, is it going to grow back, is it going to get worse b4 it gets better? I went to the Drs and she said it can take this long 4 it to come out of your system, 14 mths!! She suggested taking a multi vit, which I have now been doing for about ten days!! Any more advice would be much apprecited, my hair is short anyway, so think to start with didn't really notice the loss!

Aug 27, 2009
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my hair also falls out
by: joanne

i have been using depo injection for almost 3 years after having my last child. i noticed straight away that my hair would fall out,my brush always full, all over the house and if i ran my hand through my hair a handful of hair. i went to the doctors and she told me it was just my body settling down after pregnancy. i have just stopped the injection and hope that the loss of hair will setttle down soon, the last thing i want is to go bald - wish i had been informed this could happen before using it.

Aug 27, 2009
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Hang in there ladies!
by: Becky

Update! Its been 16 months since my last shot and I am happy to report that the amount of hair fall is just about normal! Not only that, but the addition of a Biotin supplement to my diet has it growing like a weed, I never thought I'd be happy to have a million little baby hairs sticking up all over my head. Hang in there girls, it does get better!

Aug 26, 2009
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DEPO IS MAKING ME BALD
by: SRCW

im 21 yrs old n honestly i got on depo to gain weight..cuz im pretty skinny...but i didn't gain not one pound but i lost alot of hair...i have bold spots..n pain in my scalp now also dat i've never had...i got the shot 2 times n out of the 6 months i bleed for 5 i would NEVER get depo again..i also had a lack of sex interest...i pray my hair grows back

Aug 21, 2009
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me too
by: Diana

I started using depo last october. It was about 3 months later that I noticed my hair was thinning. My family doctor gave me a shampoo that didn't help. My obgyn said he didn't THINK it was the depo. Three months later there was a whole patch missing and I was pulling huge clumps of hair out of my brush. His nurse suggested it was my flat iron that was causing it.So I get to decide to have another baby or go bald. I used to have long , thick, beautiful hair and now I throw it in a bun to hide my scalp. Its very sad.

Jul 08, 2009
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hair growth
by: lisa

when i was young i have always had long thick hair after having my children i decied to go onto the depo i have been on the depo for years and my hair doesnt grow and its thin and short im frightened to go to the hairdresser cause everytime they used to cut the ends it will say like that mt hair is still short and not growing my partner keeps on telling me why dont my hair grow since reading about the depo i have ralised that since being on the depo my hair stoped growing is there any help out there for people like myself i have bought every hair products going for my hair to grow and its not happening is there any supplement that i can take as its getting me down i have been to the doctors did all the test everything is ok help out there please

Jun 22, 2009
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In the same boat
by: Lisa

Hi Guys,

I can confirm the same. I had the injection in November and was told it would last 3 months before I needed to come back to have another one.

The only reason I took it was because it was summer and wanted to enjoy the summer and train hard as I loose a week when I get my periods. In Feb/March I noticed that my hair started to fall out..I would put my hand through my hair and at least 20 hairs would follow.

It had taken my 5 years to grow my hair down to my bra strap and within 3 months it was down to a short, thinned out bob. 4 months down the track of when it was supposed to be out of my system and it is still falling out but not quite as bad as what it was...i had a lot of fine hair to start with but was even so desperate as to look into hair pieces as I would put my hair in a pony tail and there is nothing there...tried not to cry or get upset because I know stress will make it worse and there is nothing I can do about it.

Luckily for me it was falling out everywhere not just in one area. I have just had extensions put in to make it look thicker and if it falls out it falls out...I know that it could take a lot longer than this for my hair to recover...not much I can do about it but the extensions definitely made a huge difference :)

Nov 09, 2008
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In the same boat
by: Becky

Hi Nell,

I'm in the same boat as you with the Depo...you can see my full story from my post at the end of September. Since then I have seen the dermatologist who is pretty sure that it was the injection, but he also told me that despite what most of the sites I've seen said about TE lasting 3-6 months, he said its more like 6-9 or more. I'm just over 4 months of major loss and my last injection was the end of April. He also mentioned about how the drug stays in your fat cells so it can stay in your system long after the rest of the drug wears off. I haven't seen any improvement as far as the amount I am losing but I think (and hope!) I am starting to see some new growth in the front. Good luck, I know its nice to know that you're not the only one!

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