curls and birth control pills - Page 6

3c4d7zwhatevs · 07-05-2010, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kellygreen49

I already posted on here but it was a long time ago.

I started out taking FemconFE (the chewable birth control.) That made me very nauseous for months and did not provide relief of my heavy periods. It did however, give my skin a nice glow and clear up my skin. No weight gain. Don't remember it doing anything to my hair.
Then I took YAZ when it first came out, and my gyno was convinced it would help my acne. Instead, my acne got rash like, red and painful. I was taken off of it quickly, never really finding out how it would affect my period. I think it did something to my hair too, made it frizzy.
Then 4 months ago, I was put on Loestrin 24. My skin looks amazing, I put on no weight, but it did absolutely nothing for my periods. They last 4 days, but they are just as heavy. last month I had hot flashes, vomiting and diarrhea at night on it. My blood pressure was all over the place too.

Now I'm on Lybrel, started it 2 weeks ago. Had nausea at first but it's totally gone now. Now I'm hoping everything goes well these next couple months with weight/acne/periods/hair. Haha.

Lybrel is a version of Alesse / Nordette. I am taking a generic form now (Trivora). This is my second month. I am glad to report the weight gain has slowed down to nil but the jury is still out on hair. I get the occasional breakout but I can handle that with my Clarisonic and some salicylic acid. I hope the drying effects on my hair will be under control with some tinkering on my part. It seems as if my skin has gotten oilier and my hair drier. But I will take that instead of the weight and mood swings.

curlymae · 07-06-2010, 04:06 PM

Hey
I realize your post is from awhile ago but I experienced the exact same thing. My hair went curly when I hit puberty. By the time I was in my mid-teens I had super curly hair. I went on Yasmin for 2 years and I noticed my hair began getting less and less curly, to the point it was just wavy. I recenly switch to Ortho Tricyclen lo (just like you!). I've only been on it for just over a month but I'm slowly starting to notice a difference...but it might just be wishful thinking too. What did you find? Did they come back? I understand your loss!
Thanks

starsinmypocket · 08-12-2010, 03:43 AM

This makes so much sense... I was more of a 3a before quiting the pill. Since Ive been off my hair has gotten curlier and curlier... I thought it was mainly from going CG- which Im sure has some to do with it, but the difference is pretty dramatic... thanks for sharing!

wavyhava · 09-03-2010, 03:54 PM

I'm so glad I found this thread! I was on BC for 5 years and definitely could tell my hair thinned but had no idea what it could be. I recently stopped the pill and hope my hair thickness comes back. I miss it. Thanks for sharing everyone, this really helped me understand what has happened!

mscounselor · 11-19-2010, 06:34 PM

Well I dont know if I had any changes since I was both relaxed, transitioning and natural during the length of my use of BC. I too have endo and I guess I dont pay attention since the pain takes primary. I also have dermatitis as well so I dont know if its the Rx shampoo or the pills affecting anything in my hair.

starlightstarbright · 11-19-2010, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dalitwil

Have you considered (or tried) scheduled dosing of NSAIDs (e.g. motrin, possibly even prescription NSAIDs) to help with cramping? I'm just about finished with my OBGYN in school, and we are now being advised to prescribe scheduled doses of NSAIDs before prescribing OCP for very painful cramping.

Scheduled dosing would be taking the medicine before the onset of your period, and then following up every 6-8 hours as advised as prophylaxis to the pain, instead of trying to abort it. It's actually becoming more standard treatment now, and it works well (from what we are told).

Just something to keep in mind if you ever determine you no longer want to stay on OCPs.

But, speaking from personal experience, I have been on Yaz and did notice my hair would fall out in chunks. I have also been on ortho-low almost all of high school and I thought it was a much nicer combination of hormones in contrast to Yaz.

Keep us updated!

I just think if a pill is causing your hair to fall out stop using it. I agree NSAIDS are an option since you were taking them for pain (Ibuprofen, naproxen). I've also found that taking omega3 can drastically reduce the pain you get during your monthly. I def have had extremely painful periods too and a change of lifestyle, eating habits along with supplements and I'm pretty much pain free during that time. You will want one that has at least 800mg of (EPA + DHA). I'm very anti-pharmaceutical anything so I think your best bet is to try using something natural. Because I just couldnt take it if my hair was falling out because of the pill.

starlightstarbright · 11-19-2010, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mscounselor

Well I dont know if I had any changes since I was both relaxed, transitioning and natural during the length of my use of BC. I too have endo and I guess I dont pay attention since the pain takes primary. I also have dermatitis as well so I dont know if its the Rx shampoo or the pills affecting anything in my hair.

Sinc you mention the rx shampoo maybe it could be that...What are the ingredients...? Becaus if the ingredients are too harsh for you that may be what's causing problems. With dermatitis is usually sensitive skin also. I have eczema so I know how it can get

roseredpate · 11-30-2010, 03:17 PM

I take Sronyx. This birth control has been mine for almost a year and I have been noticing I have lost some curls and MOST importantly I am loosing the redness in my hair!!!!! I can literally pull a chunk from the bottom back portion of my head and wrap it to my hair in the front where i now look strawberry blonde instead of deep dark red and notice this huge difference. My hair has always been the same great red until i got with my husband and started taking BC. It is really sad. Is there a BC that doesnt affect the color of your hair?

itsKelCeeEee · 12-03-2010, 03:23 AM

Wow, that's crazy. By the time I was on BC I'd just gotten my big chop and had relaxers before, but I did change BCs (from Loestrin 24 to Ortho Cyclen) and notice that my curlier hair lost some curl. I thought it may have been because my hair's growing out

I hate the idea of oral contraceptives as it is, but I have endometriosis and NSAIDs don't do much for me, not to mention heavy clotting and...a bunch of other issues I'm sure none of you want to know about. Point is, going off the BC isn't even an option right now. Maybe one day I'll see how my curls act without it... *sigh*

extremepixie · 12-17-2010, 09:15 AM

I had the implanon put in back in feb of this year. I didnt notice the loss of curls right away as I went travelling and blamed it on change of water and the sun. However after coming back home I realised that my hair is now has a tendency a) to be a lot more greasy - it used to be dry and b) its now only wavy. I am thinking of having it taken out as this was never a problem when I was on the birth control pill. I feel a little like Ive lost my identity! My curls were def one of my best physical features. I will let you know how it goes!

curledlove · 12-19-2010, 09:09 PM

I, like many others here, am on Apri now. I went on BC against my own will because a few years ago I had a terrible experience with BC. I would have mood swings and I was an emotional mess. Around that time, I noticed my hair was thinning and I stopped relaxing, now that I think of it, the thinning may have been due to the BC or a combination of the two. My curl texture now is completely different from the texture I had as a child before the creamy crack ever touched my hair.

On the other hand, I am a nursing student and one of my professors happens to have been a nurse at a women's health clinic for many years. Before I went on BC again I asked her a ton of questions and talked to her about my experience with the pill in the past. Her answers made everything make sense and this is something that many of you here may benefit from. Apparently, research shows that the hormones in BC pills can deplete your body of many of its vitamins and minerals. Magnesium, B vitamins, vitamin C, and zinc are the most common depletions. This may be the reason for the mood swings, high blood pressure, and hair changes. She suggested taking a daily multivitamin every day while on BC to counteract the depletions that can be caused by the pills. So far I have done just that and have not noticed any of the changes that the pill caused me the first time I took it.

Hope this is a solution for some of your problems!

itsKelCeeEee · 12-20-2010, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by curledlove

Apparently, research shows that the hormones in BC pills can deplete your body of many of its vitamins and minerals. Magnesium, B vitamins, vitamin C, and zinc are the most common depletions. This may be the reason for the mood swings, high blood pressure, and hair changes.

The things us women folk endure...

sosovoslr · 01-08-2011, 11:51 AM

hmm....
i have the same experience after having yasmin..

i had an absolutely curly hair but after yasmin for 2years, i have thin straight hair.
anyone who has this experience please tell me how you took this pill like when, how, which contraceptive.......!!

reciaseegy · 01-10-2011, 04:12 PM

I was on a few different pills for about a year and they pretty much ruined my life at that time. I was sick every day with them to the extent I had to quit my job and drop out of school. I also ended up with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and had a lot of problems with IBS because of the pill.

I went off BC in February and have noticed that my hair isn't as curly as it used to be. Do you think that could still be messing with my hair?

Little Red · 05-07-2011, 12:06 AM

I went off Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo last September. About two months after, I strarted shedding a lot of hair and did so for about two or three months. I've been free of those hormones for eight months now. I think my hair has gotten curlier now.

EdenRose · 07-25-2011, 07:28 PM

i was taking Loestren for a few months after having irregular in period for 3 months straight and from the switch from Ortho Tri Cyclen-Lo and the Loestren i loss a lot of scalp hair. so i had to stop it completely and haven't been on it and the loss patches are growing back better.it's just upsetting because i do have bad cramps and clotting and there aren't many options left for me and we dont want to do an iud because we dont know how it will affect my already unbalanced fertility since i have had a history of cyst and bad cramps and clotting and a miscarriage and a family history of high risk pregnancies.

So it was sad to have to chose for now bc or my hair.
but heres a site with a list and more info on BC and hair side effects by the American Hair Loss Association.
American Hair Loss Association - Women's Hair Loss / Oral Contraceptives

stars · 09-11-2011, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by curledlove

I, like many others here, am on Apri now. I went on BC against my own will because a few years ago I had a terrible experience with BC. I would have mood swings and I was an emotional mess. Around that time, I noticed my hair was thinning and I stopped relaxing, now that I think of it, the thinning may have been due to the BC or a combination of the two. My curl texture now is completely different from the texture I had as a child before the creamy crack ever touched my hair.

On the other hand, I am a nursing student and one of my professors happens to have been a nurse at a women's health clinic for many years. Before I went on BC again I asked her a ton of questions and talked to her about my experience with the pill in the past. Her answers made everything make sense and this is something that many of you here may benefit from. Apparently, research shows that the hormones in BC pills can deplete your body of many of its vitamins and minerals. Magnesium, B vitamins, vitamin C, and zinc are the most common depletions. This may be the reason for the mood swings, high blood pressure, and hair changes. She suggested taking a daily multivitamin every day while on BC to counteract the depletions that can be caused by the pills. So far I have done just that and have not noticed any of the changes that the pill caused me the first time I took it.

Hope this is a solution for some of your problems!

Wow, well I certainly came to the right place for information about all of this!!! I'm gonna try taking a multivitamin from now on, and see if that works or not.

So I've definitely been noticing my hair straightening out ever since I've been on the pill. Seriously, I went from 3c to 1!!!!!! I don't even need a flat-iron to make it straight since it's already there! I also experienced hairloss from being on Loestrin 24. I switched to Orth tri-cyclen lo about 2 months ago, so hopefully this will help with re-growth and re-curling? So far it still looks like it's coming in straight, but I'll definitely know in a few months or so.

CurlyQ82 · 10-06-2011, 09:48 AM

OMG im glad I found this site...It is so interesting to know other curlies have had their hair loosen after going on BC...Ive been on and off for some years due to PCOS condition and I definitely have noticed some loosening...it was somewhat a blessing but now i feel they are falling somewhat flat. It's amazing what hormones can do to and for you!

mixedcurl · 12-10-2011, 11:13 PM

I know this thread is old, but it has just changed everything for me. I have been so frustrated with my hair!! after going natural I realized that my hair texture was completely different from how it was before. My hair no longer seems part of me (I know that sounds crazy). Everyone kept asking me if I had a child, because my curls are much looser and lack formation in some spots. Now it makes perfect sense: When I got a relaxer (age 18 , I also got on birth control that same year). I am on Yaz now and so frustrated. The question is: What do I do now?

KuLaidejuisce · 12-22-2011, 11:19 PM

Its ironic that I stumbled upon this thread.
I received my first depo shot in nov. My hair had just went thru a stage of new growth. It looks great after a wash.. but everything is drying it out & its reacting to my product like its too much.. even tho its not. Its plain wild lately, the curl doesn't last, its tangling, etc. Not its normal behavior.

Not only that but after my depo shot I started getting this paralyzing back pain that lasted two weeks. I always feel dizzy. Get frequent migraines. The nausea is horrible. Mood swings. Higher anxiety. Not feelin like myself & my normal 4 day monthly is going on 2 wks.. wth??

I have endometriosis as well but these symptoms usually only occur the first week before & during my period. Now its like, all day all month.

I thought it was just the shot, but now after reading this & some other things that gave me insight from other women, I think BC does more harm than good sometimes... I considered switchin to the regular pill, for estrogen purposes & weight gain, but I'm having second thoughts, lol.

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