Desperately seeking answers
Depo Provera Causing Hair Loss?

by Becky
(North Carolina)

Depo Provera Side Effects

I am 27 years old, and recently married. I have always shed a lot of hair, mostly when blow drying, but then again, I had a lot of hair to shed. About three and a half months ago, I noticed that my pony tail seemed a lot thinner than usual. I dismissed it at the time, but a couple of weeks later I started shedding really bad. I merely touched my head and would lose 6-10 hairs at at time (and I was a hair-runner, constantly pushing it back), and this was merely weeks before my wedding.

I was distraught - I didn't know what to do. I became terrified to wash or even comb it. I didn't have insurance at the time, so I couldn't see a doctor. I started to wonder if Depo-Provera, which I had started about five months earlier, could be the culprit. I noticed in the pamphlet that came from the pharmacist that hair loss was one of the side effects, but I couldn't find much information about it. I skipped my third shot, which would have been at the end of July.

About two weeks later, the hair loss seemed to slow for a few days, and then it came back with a vengeance, and hasn't let up yet. I did get to see a general practitioner last week, and he ran some blood tests and said my thyroid is normal and everything else looks ok, but he is sending me to a dermatologist nonetheless - but that won't be for another few weeks. I don't know how much more of this I can take - I estimate I've lost close to half my hair.

I can't stand to see it everywhere - all over the floor, the tub, and tangled in the vacuum everytime I clean. Not to mention the way it feels falling out when I don't pull it back (which I know I shouldn't do but I can't style it any other way) I'm down to washing it only every third day, and I haven't blow dried in months. It seems to be coming from all over, it seems a little worse in the front but that might just be because its the only place I can actually see. I've read a lot about telogen effluvium but sometimes I feel like I'm even losing too much for that.

Has anyone had anything like this from Depo-Provera? Is there anything that I should be sure to ask the dermatologist when I can finally go? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!!

Editor's Comments

Dear Becky,
What it seems to me that you are likely to be suffering from body stress and hormonal imbalances when taking Depo Provera. This particular drug which is a contraceptive medication for controlling unwanted pregnancy can indeed cause side effects complimenting to hair loss. This drug actually manipulates your body hormones and behaviour to prevent follicular development. If you are new to this drug it can cause adverse reaction like headaches, nervousness, mood changes, bloating, hot flashes, decreased interest in sex, breast tenderness, acne, hair loss, and back ache.

Depo will usually lasts in your body for at least 6-8 months after the shot for it to complete go away. During this time, the side effects like sudden hair loss can continue till your body returns to its normal state. As your hair won't fall off immediately, it will usually take 3 months after the shot before you see accelerated hair loss. Since you stated that you have taken Depo in the last 6 months and now you are facing with a great loss of hair, I can put my bet that Depo is the culprit.

Another possible culprit could be emotional stress and physical stress like preparation for the wedding and the psychological reaction towards the sudden hair loss that is all contributing to the condition. What I can say that your hair currently is very fragile and you will need to relax up. You should discontinue Depo immediately and wait for the hair loss to clear up. As Depo will stay in your body for 6-8 months after the last injection, expect some more hair loss to continue further in a reduced rate 3 months after. Your regular body levels should return and your hair loss's rate should normalized.

What you can do now for the meantime is to take Vitamin B Complex, Folic Acid and Iron supplements (which can be reduced by Depo) that are great for your hair growth. Try Minoxidil for Women and also if you can, take Viviscal, which can tremendously stimulates hair growth. You need to get back control of your life and stop worrying as it won't stop hair loss. Give yourself 3 months to survey the situation before seeing a derma while considering these treatments.

If you need a temporary solution, cut your hair as short as possible to reduce the impact of hair loss. It's also the best way to manage your hair.