Plan B and Hair Loss: Understanding the Connection

Emergency contraception, like Plan B One-Step, is a crucial option when birth control fails or after unprotected sex. It contains levonorgestrel, a hormone that can prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation. However, like all medications, Plan B can have side effects, and one potential concern is hair loss. While not a commonly discussed side effect, it's important to understand the possible link between Plan B and hair changes.

How Plan B Works

Plan B primarily works by preventing the release of an egg from the ovary, thus preventing fertilization. For it to be most effective, it is recommended to take the contraceptive within 72 hours of unprotected sex. It's crucial to remember that emergency contraception isn't intended for regular use and consulting a healthcare provider about suitable birth control options is recommended.

Common Side Effects of Plan B

Plan B can cause short-term changes to your menstrual cycle. Some common side effects of Plan B include:

• Blood spotting
• Nausea
• Changes in menstrual cycle timing
• Cramping

The Connection Between Hormonal Birth Control and Hair Loss

The growth cycle of your hair is influenced by hormones. Because of this, your hair may be affected if you are taking a contraceptive pill (or indeed, any form of hormonal contraceptive, including coils, injections, patches & vaginal rings). For some, this manifests as hair loss.

Any hormonal form of birth control - including oral pills, skin patches, hormone injections, and implants - can potentially cause hair loss. The ingredient in these products that may cause hair loss is progestin.

Read also: Does Ozempic Cause Hair Loss?

Birth control pills work by adjusting the balance of hormones in your body. Hormonal birth control can cause hair loss in some people. The androgenic activity of the progestin component is responsible for this effect, with the level of activity varying among different progestins.

There are two types of hair loss associated with birth control pills: hair thinning and hair shedding. They have different symptoms and are caused by different things.

• Hair thinning: also known as reduced volume or female pattern hair loss, takes place gradually over time and is an inherited condition.
• Hair shedding: also known as telogen effluvium, is immediately noticeable and is caused by a disturbance, imbalance, or shock within your body.

Plan B and Hair Loss: What's the Link?

While Plan B isn't typically associated with long-term hair loss, it contains levonorgestrel, a progestin. Progestin is a synthetic form of progesterone, a hormone that the ovaries release naturally. Some progestins have a greater androgenic effect than others.

Some birth control pills can raise your levels of androgens (male hormones). These pills may trigger or worsen hair thinning. The androgenic activity of birth control pills may cause various negative effects, including hair loss.

This synthetic form of the hormone has androgenic activity, so it may produce effects similar to those of male hormones. The androgenic activity of the progestin component is responsible for this effect, with the level of activity varying among different progestins. For some women who have a genetic predisposition to hair loss, these higher levels of androgens may mean that they experience hair loss while taking the pill.

Read also: Hair Loss Side Effect of Eliquis

Birth control pills can cause hair loss in people who are especially sensitive to the hormones in the pill or who have a family history of hormone-related hair loss.

Plan B could potentially trigger temporary hair shedding, known as telogen effluvium, in some individuals. This occurs when a stressor, like hormonal fluctuations from the medication, causes hair follicles to enter the resting phase (telogen) prematurely. This can lead to increased shedding a few months later.

Telogen Effluvium

Telogen effluvium is a common type of hair loss that can occur after a stressful event, hormonal change, or illness. In the case of Plan B, the sudden surge of hormones could potentially trigger this condition.

Birth control pills cause the hair to move from the growing phase to the resting phase too soon and for too long. This form of hair loss is called telogen effluvium. Large amounts of hair can fall out during this process.

Hair normally grows in cycles. Anagen is the active phase. During this phase, your hair grows from its follicle. This period can last for two to seven years.Telogen is the resting phase. During this phase, your hair doesn’t grow. Between 25 and 100 hairs are shed daily in this phase.

Read also: Treating a Dry Scalp

• Giving birth, being ill, or experiencing a stressful event: Any type of stress may increase shedding. After the stressor ends, most people’s hair returns to its previous fullness within 6-9 months.

Risk Factors for Hair Loss with Hormonal Birth Control

Certain factors can increase the likelihood of experiencing hair loss related to hormonal birth control, including Plan B:

• Genetic Predisposition: Individuals with a family history of hair loss or sensitivity to hormonal changes are more susceptible.
• Hormonal Sensitivity: Some people are simply more sensitive to hormonal fluctuations, making them more prone to hair shedding.
• Underlying Conditions: Conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or thyroid disease can contribute to hair loss and may be exacerbated by hormonal birth control.
• having a family history of hormone-related hair loss
• having a hormonal imbalance, such as polycystic ovary syndrome
• developing thyroid disease

What to Do If You Experience Hair Loss After Taking Plan B

If you notice increased hair shedding or thinning after taking Plan B, here are some steps you can take:

1. Consult a Doctor: It's essential to consult with a healthcare professional to rule out other potential causes of hair loss and discuss appropriate management strategies. They can help to determine whether the pill is the cause of this hair loss and can suggest alternative methods of contraception if you wish to switch.
2. Be Patient: Hair loss caused by Plan B is usually temporary, and your hair should recover within a few months as your hormone levels stabilize.
3. Manage Stress: Stress can exacerbate hair loss, so practice stress-reducing techniques like yoga, meditation, or spending time in nature.
4. Nutritional Support: Ensure you're consuming a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals essential for hair health, such as iron, zinc, and biotin. If you’re deficient in certain vitamins, particularly iron and zinc, you may experience accelerated hair loss.
5. Gentle Hair Care: Avoid harsh hair treatments, tight hairstyles, and excessive heat styling, as these can further damage hair follicles. The use of products that perm, dye, or relax the hair can cause damage that may result in hair loss. A hairstyle that leads to continuous pulling on the scalp can lead to permanent hair loss.
6. Consider Hair Loss Treatments: A person with this condition can benefit from seeing a board-certified dermatologist. They can recommend medications to help with hair regrowth, such as minoxidil 2% and finasteride. These medications work by moving hair follicles into the growth phase more quickly. It may take a few months of use before you can see results.

Treatment Options for Hair Loss

When someone needs treatment, the AADA notes that a doctor may advise one of the following:

• Minoxidil (Rogaine): This FDA-approved medicine is used for treating hair loss in both men and women. Applying this over-the-counter medication to the scalp may stimulate hair growth.
• Laser caps and combs: These devices use low-level laser therapy to promote tissue repair and regeneration, which may stimulate hair growth. These devices, which deliver low level laser therapy, may help some people.
• Microneedling: Microneedling is a procedure that uses tiny needles to create controlled injuries in the skin, with the goal of stimulating healing. A microneedling device contains hundreds of tiny needles. Limited research suggests that it might stimulate hair growth.
• Vitamins and protein: If you’re deficient in certain vitamins, particularly iron and zinc, you may experience accelerated hair loss. If a blood test reveals a deficiency, a doctor may recommend taking a supplement. However, as excessive amounts of certain vitamins or minerals can be harmful, a person should not take a supplement unless tests reveal a deficiency.

Alternative Birth Control Options

If you're concerned about hair loss and are looking for alternative birth control methods, consider discussing these options with your doctor:

• Non-hormonal methods: Condoms, diaphragms, and copper IUDs don't contain hormones and won't affect your hair.
• Low-androgen birth control pills: If you prefer oral contraceptives, your doctor can prescribe a pill with lower androgenic activity. If hair loss runs in your family, consider birth control options that contain more estrogen than progestin. These pills are low on the androgen index, and they can actually stimulate hair growth by keeping your hair in the anagen phase longer.
• Other hormonal methods: The implant.

Important Considerations Regarding Plan B

• Not for Regular Use: Plan B is intended for emergency contraception only and shouldn't replace regular birth control methods.
• Effectiveness: The sooner you take Plan B after unprotected sex, the more effective it is.
• STI Protection: Plan B does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). If this is a concern for you, talk with your doctor. This device will not protect you from getting HIV/AIDS, herpes, or other sexually transmitted diseases. Tell your doctor if you or your partner begins to have sexual intercourse with other people, or you or your partner tests positive for a sexually transmitted disease.

Other Important Information About Side Effects of Plan B

It is very important that your doctor check you closely to make sure this medicine is working properly and does not cause unwanted effects. Although you are using this medicine to prevent pregnancy, you should know that using this medicine while you are pregnant could harm the unborn baby. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.

Call your doctor right away if you have severe lower abdominal or stomach pain 3 to 5 weeks after taking this medicine. You may have a pregnancy outside of the uterus (womb), which is called an ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy can be a serious and life-threatening condition. It can also cause problems that may make it harder for you to become pregnant in the future.

You may have some blood spotting a few days after taking this medicine. If the bleeding continues for more than 1 week, check with your doctor right away. This medicine may make your next monthly period later than expected by a few days. If your next period after taking this medicine is more than 1 week late, check with your doctor right away for a pregnancy test.

Your regular birth control method such as birth control pills or patch may not work as well while you are using this medicine. After using this medicine, you must use two forms of birth control. Use birth control pills or patch together with another form of birth control, such as a condom, diaphragm, or contraceptive foam or jelly, during any other times that you have sex in the same monthly period you used this medicine.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal (eg, St. John's wort) or vitamin supplements.

For most people, the effects of taking the morning after pill will be minor, short-term, and won’t need further medical attention.

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