Dermatol Iber Lat Am. 1970;12:29-36.

Oral contraceptives and hair loss

Greenwald AE.

PIP: 5 cases of diffuse hair loss in women who took oral contraceptives are studied. 3 cases developed male pattern baldness during the time they were taking the pills. 2 cases began losing their hair after having stopped medication and these resembled postpartum baldness. 1 woman did not regrow her hair 20 months after having stopped medication . The effects of female sex hormones on hair follicles are discussed. Contraceptives induce a condition of pseudopregnancy, and should be considered as possible toxic causes of hair loss. However, the incidence of hair loss among users of oral contraceptives is very low.