Was My Birth Control The Likely Cause of My Female Hair Loss?

Hello, I’m a 26 year old female who recently experienced dramatic hairloss. I would say over the last 7 or 8 months I’ve lost nearly half my hair. All my blood tests came back normal including a hormonal panel. My DHEA sulfate was slightly elevated but not much. The loss is all over, diffuse. But more severe in areas like the hairline.

I went to two dermatologists who were fairly insensitive told me it would grow back and that was it. I was on two birth control pills this year which gave me bad side effects so I stopped taking them. My derm told me this is likely the cause.

If this is the case, will it really grow back? I see small sprouts, but not enough to fill in what I lost. Does growth happen gradually ?

Thank you for your help.

The questions you asked are reasonable, but I am not in a position to give you an answer to them. Massive hair loss, as you described, is not common. Telogen effluviums can occur that present this way, but these usually reverse in a year or so.

I don’t know which birth control pills you were taking, but I would go back to your dermatologist and ask if he/she thinks that a biopsy will give more information and is appropriate to get a specific diagnosis.