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Birth Control Pills, Hair Loss and Weight Gain – Are They Interrelated?

Some women may not know it, but there's a relationship between birth control pills, hair loss and weight gain. Birth control pills come in different types and strengths, and the side effects will depend on the kind of pills you take.

It's not always safe to assume that whenever you're using birth control pills, hair loss and weight gain are a natural consequence. Many birth control pills are composed of artificial hormones, meaning they contain laboratory manufactured estrogen or progestin, which interact with a woman's natural hormones and affect her in various ways. This means, some women will suffer the side effects of hormonal birth control pills more, while other women won't. Some women may also stay relatively free of many of a certain pill's side effects, but suffer highly from specific side effects - such as mood swings, hair loss, and weight gain.

Hair loss is actually not all that common as a side effect of the pill. The only pill that is proven to generate this effect is the progestin-only pill, which may also stop the menstrual flow. But hair loss usually occurs in women who have a genetic predisposition toward alopecia, or hair loss. Alopecia is estimated to exist as a genetic condition in many human beings on earth, and it is triggered by the onset of androgens (male hormones) when we reach a certain age. An estimated 70 percent of men and a very small number of women will experience the effects of alopecia when they reach middle age.

Weight gain, on the other hand, is spoken of as a common side effect of hormonal birth control pills. Not every female who uses hormonal pills experience weight gain, but as a matter of fact, these pills have a common effect on the body: they increase appetite and make for easier fat deposition. Not to worry, however: as soon as a woman goes off the pill, she can easily lose the weight she gained while on it.

Birth control pills have a number of side effects besides hair loss and weight gain - effects like mood swings, dizziness, abdominal pains, and the like. Your gynecologist would be able to tell you which side effects are normal, so you would know what to expect. At the same time, be aware that birth control pills, hair loss and weight gain have a direct correlation. Even before your doctor warns you, you should know!