curls and birth control pills - Page 2

2banonymous · 05-19-2008, 09:29 PM

Hi jojob,

Thank you for taking the time to tell me your story. Your advice is comforting and helpful! I'm glad you're finding solutions for yourself. I definitely know what it's like to be brushed off by doctors. I've been struggling with this problem for 7 years!

Wishing you good hair days!
A.

Artemida · 07-08-2008, 02:38 PM

Has anyone here tried Niacin for their menstrual problems? I have had horrible problems with cramping in the past (passing out, throwing-up, etc) and the Dr.'s put me on NSaids and Ibuprofen and BC but nothing really worked for me. I used to have to take 1200mg of Ibuprofen 2x a day for my pain to be alleviated.

Then I found that they did studies on women and Niacin. They gave women 100mg of Niacin 10 days before their period started and somewhere around 90% of the women's cramping were reduced.

I started taking Niacin 3 months ago and I can say it has been my life saver. I take it 12 days before I am due for my next period. It worked immediately. I only have to take around 200mg of advil and I was good to go! I also take it with Evening Primrose Oil and I make sure I get enough Vitamin C.

If you do decide to try Niacin talk to your Dr first. Added bonus: Niacin stimulates blood circulation and helps hair growth!

The only other thing I have found to work for me is potent THC in liquid form but that's not legal here in Arizona so I don't use it.

lionesslady · 07-27-2008, 07:41 AM

Hello all you curly headed people!!
I am struggling with stopping BC pills and hair loss. I have been off of them for about 2 months and my hair is falling out pretty significantly. I used to have alot of hair but over the years and now this, it is about 1/4 of what it used to be. I am trying to be patient and not go back on the pill. Can someone PLEASE tell me if this madness will stop and if my hair will possibly thicken back up? Thanks so much...

Becci · 07-27-2008, 04:04 PM

Ive just stumbled upon this thread and now Im worried.

Im currently on 'the pill' and I was considering coming off it soon. Is it a general problem that hair can fall out when you come off the pill?

CurlyHairedFarmer · 07-28-2008, 06:31 AM

My hair started looking BETTER when I got on the pill at 15. I had periods that would occur every 19 days, for 10 days and pain that would keep me in bed. I ended up severely anemic and BCP was my last option before a blood transfusion.

I was put on Loestrin 1/20FE and though many people have issues with hair loss on this, I never saw a change. My curl is way more predictable, and my hair much softer since going on the pill.

AnimaSola3o4 · 07-28-2008, 08:07 PM

Hmm. I am on Yaz for PCOS... I cannot go off of it, otherwise I get only 1 or 2 periods a year naturally.

I have not noticed any difference in my curls.

ETA: Oh, and my facial hair has dramatically decreased since starting it.

Trixie · 07-29-2008, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comebackcurls

Hello all,

I'm new to the forum, though I've been lurking around this website for quite some time. Long story short, I'm having a minor hair crisis. My hair went from stick straight to thick, coarse, curly (3a type) hair during puberty. I am now 21 years old and started on birth control pills a year ago, as I started having painful periods during college. Over the past year, I've noticed my that my curls have gotten looser and looser. Now I have no idea what kind of mood my hair will be in from day to day. It certainly has body/wave to it, but now I get simple loose waves, if I'm lucky. I miss my curls desperately. I recently switched to a low estrogen pill (Ortho tri cyclen Lo) from Yasmin, and I am hoping to see some some of my thick curls return.

Has anyone had a similar experience? Any advice? Will my doctor think I'm crazy for even bringing this to her attention? I know hormonal changes can have a big effect on hair texture, but I am really hoping to get my signature curls back.

Wow, you basically just described me in that post! I was on Yasmin for almost a year and then Yaz for a couple of months, and it totally changed my hair! It made the curl a lot looser, and also changed the texture to more coarse. I've been off the pill for about a year now, and my natural curl and texture still don't seem to be back. Unfortunately that means that I am getting horrible menstrual cramps again, but honestly all of the other side effects were just too much for me.

I don't think your doctor would think you are crazy at all, unless you have a bad/uncaring doctor. My obgyn listened to all my concerns and told me to try Loestrin 24, but I'm too scared to try it so far, lol. As far as your hair, I have no idea what kind of advice to give you. Just thought I'd let you know that there is someone else out there with the same problems! I guess just talk to your doctor, maybe she will have a recommendation or something.

emilyj · 08-24-2008, 04:29 PM

I went to my primary physician last week for stabbing pain on the left side of my pelvis, and had an ultrasound last Wednesday that found that I have a hemorrhagic cyst on my left ovary, so I was considering asking the doc for a BC prescription since I am not relishing having to go through this ever again. I never even thought of a side effect being straighter hair.... I really don't want my hair to fall out, though, since that was one of the things I went complaining of originally (a month and a half before the cyst, so I don't think they could've been related). But I think I have some kind of hormonal problem, and I'd really like to get it under control. Any suggestions? Are the low dose pills better? What is the difference between Yaz and Yasmin, or are those two names for the same thing? Should I see my GYN, not just my primary physician?

ringlets of fire · 08-26-2008, 05:03 PM

I've been on Yasmin for years. My hair has changed, but I don't know if it is from the pill. Your theory does make sense though. My hair was pretty smooth, soft waves until I hit puberty. Between 9th and 10th grade, it got curlier and thicker. It was so thick in high school that I could only get the big size ponytail holder around it once, which wasn't tight enough. I just couldn't get it to make it two times. My friends could usually get in three twists. Needless to say, I had big hair. My hair changed again with the hormones of pregnancy. It thinned afterward. I was glad, because now it's more normal. I can get two twists on a big ponytail holder easily. I'm not sure if it is Yasmin hormones or just age that's changing my hair.

For EmilyJ - Yaz and Yasmin have the same hormones, but in different amounts. You can google each one and compare. I think that Yasmin is higher in the estrogen-type horomone. Please double check.

Caution on the tri-phasic pills: with the dose of hormones changing so frequently, your may get moody. I had a hard time with the ortho tricyclen.

TaraBeth384 · 09-05-2008, 10:37 AM

I atribute my hair loss to BC pills too. I recently switched from Apri (generic of Desogen) to Yaz. Dr. said to give it 3-6 months. It's been 3 and I've noticed a decline in how much hair I've been losing during showers, so I'm hoping it continues!

MimsTX · 09-05-2008, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emilyj

I went to my primary physician last week for stabbing pain on the left side of my pelvis, and had an ultrasound last Wednesday that found that I have a hemorrhagic cyst on my left ovary, so I was considering asking the doc for a BC prescription since I am not relishing having to go through this ever again. I never even thought of a side effect being straighter hair.... I really don't want my hair to fall out, though, since that was one of the things I went complaining of originally (a month and a half before the cyst, so I don't think they could've been related). But I think I have some kind of hormonal problem, and I'd really like to get it under control. Any suggestions? Are the low dose pills better? What is the difference between Yaz and Yasmin, or are those two names for the same thing? Should I see my GYN, not just my primary physician?

Emilyj, sent you a PM... might have something that could help

MissHidley · 10-10-2008, 06:40 AM

ahh that's interesting to hear someone else's experience. I posted somewhere else on here my story- basically I had loose waves as a child, then mad crazy 3b curls through puberty, and then suddenly back to the soft waves starting around age 16. But in my case it was either natural or from my anticonvulsant medication- I didn't take any birth control until later, and now I'm off all of the drugs but the cool curly hair has not returned....I'd give anything to have it back! I used to have the world's worst period cramps as well but they have settled down (at least I'm grateful for that part)... definitely post on here if you find a curl-friendly bcp!!

southrncurls · 10-10-2008, 07:42 AM

I've had the exact opposite happen. I have lost so much hair since I started taking Yasmin its making me think of going off of it. I use to have crazy thick curls and now it's thin and flat. I cut it off last night so we'll see if it helps any.

KurleeEdna · 10-10-2008, 02:26 PM

I've heard so many stories about how BC pills or pregnancy can cause changes in hair.

Though I have no children, I've been on the pill for 6 years. I was born with 3C hair, had 3C hair before the pill... still have 3C hair while on the pill.

Talk about a persistent curl!

TashaTasha · 10-14-2008, 09:14 PM

I'm a new natural, BC 08/08, and I'm just now starting my 3rd month of BCPs. I had to go on the pill against my will because of fibroids. I've been on birth control before but with Yasmin, which gave me pregnancy face and I gained a lot of weight. Now I'm on Loestrin 24, which so far (fingers crossed) hasn't caused me any weight gain or pregnancy face. After reading this thread I now realize that the Yasmin did indeed cause my hair to get thin and break off (could've been due to getting relaxers as well). With the Loestrin I haven't noticed anything, yet my body is still getting used to the hormones. I'll keep an out and if I notice anything I will def let my doc know. Thanks so much for posting this topic.

madmb20 · 10-15-2008, 04:35 PM

when i first realized my hair was curly 6 years ago i had ringlets and it looked full, although its always been thin. i went on birth control after that and about 2 years ago i started to get really concerned with my thinning hair. and its more wavy now than curly.

i'm currently taking apri but i'm going to run out in the next couple of months and because of insurance issues i won't be going to my dr this year. i was thinking about going to a walk-in clinic to get birth control but now i don't know if i should just let it run out. from what i've read people have had mixed reactions on going off it or going on it. i don't know. any suggestions?

mycolorfulheart · 10-15-2008, 06:30 PM

Wow, I didn't know BC could do that. I've been on the same pill for 2 years, and I've had some weight gain with it so I'm switching pill types in a month. I hope the next type doesn't mess with my hair!

I didn't notice any change with my hair, although at that time I was straightening all the time and didn't know how to care for my hair anyway. I've seen my hair go through alot of changes but for me I think it was because of the products I was using. Yikes though. I really need to be on BC because i can't get preggers right now, and I have horrible depression on my own without it.

CurlsAuNatural · 10-15-2008, 11:29 PM

My curls were definitely affected when I was on Yaz. I started a post a couple of years ago asking this very question and I never got a response. At least I know I'm not crazy!!!!

The good news as soon as I stopped, my hair went back to normal.

lisakay007 · 10-16-2008, 03:04 PM

Thank you so much for this post!! This is something I wondered about too because I used to have thicker 3c hair. Since starting the pill it's much thinner and a 3a. About six months after starting the pill I cut my hair pretty short and when it grew back it was never the same. I thought maybe in cutting all my hair off I had somehow altered the curl pattern, but that wouldn't have effected the thickness. I asked my doctor if BCPs could be causing the change in my hair and she flat out said no. I'm so glad to hear this has happened to other women. Once I finish this cycle I won't take them anymore, but I do fear my hair falling out . . . how much hair did people lose and how long until it came back to normal?

vegas_curls · 10-17-2008, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tazzy

...gave me pregnancy face and I gained a lot of weight...

*argh* That's exactly what happened to me. I can't remember the name of the bc I was on, but I've been off since July - after being on it for approximately 27 months.

I've always had a full face, but since I've been off, I can see where my face has slimmed, and my clothes are fitting more comfortably in the waist/hips.

As for my hair, I've always had really thick hair so I didn't notice any changes in its volume, however the curl has been affected. While on the pill the canopy of my hair was a frizz-prone 2c-ish, the layers underneath were a definite 3b, and some of my face-framing layers were almost stick-straight.

Now that I'm off the pill, I'm getting more curl uniformity, with a lot more of my hair going into the 3b category; to the point where my husband (and other people who know me) have noticed and given me compliments.

Even my face-framing layers have changed and are showing definite wave and curl patterns.

Hope my $.02 helps!