Birth Control and Hair Care
 

Hello everyone, I have not been on here in AGES, and then I had to change my user name slightly...but it's 'onesavvydiva'.

Anyway, I am back now :D, and I come with a question. Have any of you that are on a particular birth control noticed a change in the way that your hair responds to a relaxer? I am in my 5th month of Depo-Provera and my hair has not 'taken' to a relaxer in about as long. My friends were telling me that that is a side-effect of the medicine, my hair is brittle, and breaking off, and I just got a relaxer (SUPER), a week ago and it's like I haven't had one in months :mad:! I don't plan on renewing my shot next month, I am going to try something else. Anybody else have any stories or suggestions?

The shot can affect different people in different ways. I had a friend who's hair not only starting breaking but it came out in patches. She had thick hair so she could hide it.

My sister was taking the shot and her hair became brittle and started to break. So inevitably she stopped taking the shot and her hair became strong and healthy again. So when she hears of anyone talking about trying the shot she advises against it. But, again different medications have different effects on different people.

Hi Ladies,

I have heard horror stories about the shot as well. Anything from hair loss, excessive weight gain, water retention etc. I know people (including myself) who have gained between 5-10 pounds (with no change in eating habits) from the pill although the medical community swears that new forms of birth control no longer causes weight gain or other serious side effects.

My hair came out by the hand-full when I was on Depo. I won't even mention the other effects - a little too much info.

I was on that darn shot seven years ago and my hair was falling out too. I guess that the chemicals have just left my body a couple of years ago b/c that's when I noticed that my hair was getting stronger and thick again. I would not recommend that poison to anybody!!

Patch
 

While we're on the subject of birth control and side effects, is anyone familiar with the birth control patch being advertised in the women's mags?

Re: Patch
 

I do not know anyone who is on the patch, but I have read several reviews of it in magazines. Apparently, after a few days of bathing, sweating, and living with the patch on, it starts to get a little "icky." And, it like the Band-Aid in that it does not blend well with darker skin tones. Other than that, it seems that the effects of it are the same as the pill.

Re: Patch
 

I was just going to mention that patch, I saw a commercial for it last night...maybe 1saavydiva should check into that.

I, too was on that shot for a little over a year back in '98. I don't know about the whole hair thing cuz I kept it in braids the majority of the time I was on the shot. I know this much, that crap definitely contributed to the 30 pounds I gained. My doctor warned me that the chemicals would make me think I was hungry when I wasn't. Now that the chemical is completely out of my system, I've lost most of the weight. The other side effects, I won't even get into it, like Skywalker said, too much information to be displayed on a public forum. :(

Whoa!

I was considering starting the shot, but after reading the post in hear....I will JUST SAY NO!! I heard about the weight gain, but hair loss too :eek: That is a double whammy!

Just add my .02 cents...

I am currently on Ortho-Tricyclen and the only side affect I have experienced was....CLEAN, CLEAR SKIN ! :D And it happened in less than a month. I have not experienced any side effects such as weight gain, hair loss, etc.

Thanks for the information
 

It'll be useful when I go for my annual checkup. Now that I'm over 35, I need to be careful about birth control and going back on. Since I've been single, I haven't taken anything. But there is no way I can afford to gain 30 lbs.
:rolleyes:

I know you ladies don't want to gross us out with the details, but I want to hear(read) about the other side effects. Thats if you feel comfortable.

Hey Candygirl, email me and I can give you more info. I didnt post other possible / reported side effects that I heard of or experienced because I felt some are a bit to personal, it's nothing necessarily gross.;)

sharp_style@yahoo.com

You should post this over on Chit Chat. Those freaky chicks over there should be able to give you some good advice. LOL:D For real though....you're question will reach a larger female audience over there.

This is a wonderful topic. Because of fibroids I have to watch the estrogen levels in birth control. My doctor recommended the diaphram:rolleyes: :eek: She also warned me about those shots. A couple of her clients experienced hair loss and she seems to think it happens more with her black clients.

candygirl...
 

You can PM me if you want, also.

Also, stylist Barry Fletcher wrote a book a few years back called "Why are Black Women Losing their Hair?". I just purchased a copy maybe two months ago. I skimmed through it but have not read it. But it is very interesting. I believe he touched on certain methods of birth control [and other prescribed medications]and it's chemical effect on our hair texture. I will look through it tonight to be sure.

You know I am on Estrostep birth control pills and they work well for me. One thing that it does is improve skin. My hair is still long. I can tell you other things ;) that it also works for but PM me.

I have another ques. If your hair doesn't take to a chemical treatment (i.e. relaxer), thought you still had to wait like 4-6 weeks, someone just told me that if you hair didn't take you can try to retreat in as little as two weeks? Has anyone else heard or done this, I wouldn't want to be BALD!!! Any beauticians on the board?

There is so much I could say, but I would take too long.

Estrogen analogs have been reported not to disrupt anything other than the "listed" side effects...

To tell you the truth, these drug companies care less about a sistah and her hair... They are probably "in" with it with Revelon so that we got to go every week if we must remove that "kink"...

The basic nature of relaxers have not changed since introduced... They use to make relaxers with eggs back in the day... Lye, which is sodium hydroxide--the opposite of an acid and the strongest of alkalines is the ONLY chemical they would like to use to break keratin's disulfide bonds that reshapes the hair strand. Since relaxers should NEVER be placed on your scalp, new growth's pace is a matter of your genetic background and any chemicals you have in your body.

Because most persons of Afrikan descent have short stubby hair follicles, which is the cause of the woolly hair, the wax that protects our scalp--meaning our skulls and our brains made by the sebaceous glands, has more UV protective oils and molecules from the immune system compared to those who are of indirect Afrikan descent...

Naturally, what estrogen does during the menstrual cycle is slow down egg releasal until such time that other elements build up in a woman's body to ensure the best time of implantation in the uterus... Estrogen also protects a woman's blood circulation to ensure the highest amount to fat to flow through her arteries in order to reach her "baby"... However, when reproductive health has stopped, estrogen is turned off completely and a woman begins to have more "manly" attritubes...

What the estrogen analogs do is completely blow out the menstrual cycle, and that one week you are off the pill, that drop, all I gotta say is hold-on for the ride... The concept of "birth control" has not improved since the pill's introduction--techonology of delivery has improved, but not changing what is is. And come to find out, it take at least 10-20 hormones to balance out a woman just to ensure conception! It's amazing that humans have gone forth and multiplied...

If the estrogen analogs completely block menstruation, then can you think of other things it might block?

I am not a medical doctor or a ob/gyn, but I do know the research and I have an opinion on it. All I can suggest to those concerned is pray and meditate about your choices. There are quick fixes to problems, but that is a band-aid approach. If you want complete removal and revelation, that is something that requires a lifestyle change and please get the support that you need no matter what choice you make.

Has anyone tried Ortho Evra?

I'm on it now and I ABSOLUTELY love it! It is so much easier than taking the pill and I haven't had ANY side effects from it. The only thing that I don't like about it is the beige color which doesn't look all that flattering on darker skin. If it were clear it would be perfect.

I started Sunday. I think I could be experiencing a side effect: nausea. :o The beige color doesn't look good at all. :p I was thinking that the company would create a transparent patch. I know there are patches for women going through menopause are clear/transparent/translucent.

:confused:

I know a soror who stopped using it because of a rash the patch caused on her skin. :o

A very good friend of mine was using Ortho Evra for seven months and she ended up pregnant. When she asked her doctor how this could have happened he told her that three other patients experienced the same thing. So I guess no form of birth control is 100%. Be careful.

In order to get preggers...ya gotta be doin summin' :p
 

Get the Gun! :o

Been on it for 4 months and I also like it. I never had a problem taking the pill, but this is so much better. I have to remind myself to take it off. The only side effect I've experienced was having night sweats for a few days after my week off.

The only thing that I've heard about it is that it is not as effective if the woman is overweight. :eek:

My doc just started me on Yasmin, a low-dose hormone...I was having 'issues'. :o I haven't had any problems/side effects.

She's 5'5 (maybe 5'6) and at least 140lbs. She's like this is it (their 4th)

This is true for most low dose pills. They are designed for women 150 pds and under. I read that in Allure or Shape magazine.

Uh-oh, that's true for pills too? I had only heard that about the patch! Ummmm...I'll 'talk' to ya'll later! :eek:

*Running to call my GYN....* :o

get outta here...150 lbs?
 

Are all BC pills 'low dose'?
I was on the pill for 11 yrs SCRAIT until last December. It was very effective for me...

Dis patch betta do it's YOB! :p Why should I worry...I'm sure that there won't be another Immaculate Conception (ova heya). :o :p

Re: get outta here...150 lbs?
 

No...all of them aren't low dose. They're called low dose or mini pills.

Re: Re: get outta here...150 lbs?
 

ETA:

I just did a search on google. I typed in *birth control and 150 pounds* and several articles came up about the study that was done on a woman's weight while using birth control pills.

Patch
 

I have two good friends [I guess they must be if we talk about this!] who are on the patch. Both have had the desired result, in terms of effective prenancy prevention. One had problems w/ fuzz from her clothes sticking to the patch, and not looking too cute. This same girl also gained a LOT of weight :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: , but part of that was b/c she gave up ummmm....... "powdering her nose" about 6 months b4 she started the patch.

My friend w/ less chemicals in her system to begin with has had no real problems. She's in her mid twenties and has the view that by the time someone gets close enough to see it, they are so well acquainted that they don't care that the patch doesn't match her skin. She is a VERY pale, scary white girl of Irish descent, and the patch doesn't match her skin either. :(

The Patch
 

I've been using the patch since just after it hit the market. I haven't experienced any negative side effects from it, and it has also done its job (although I also use condoms too). I am a very light skin tone, but the patch is still an off color for me. However, I wear it in a place that no one other than my man gets to see, and believe me by the time he gets there, he doesn't care about the color. My only mini complaint is that it can get stuck to your clothes, so it won't lay/lie:rolleyes: flush to my skin. It has never come all the way off, but it can get annoying. Hope this helps.
Marie

We don't wanna really know where you put it?!!?!
 

errrrr uhhhhhh, some of that post contains TMI! :eek: :o

:D

Someone that lived in my dorm last year was on the patch (for cervical cysts (sp?)) and she liked it. Eventhough she said it would kinda come up around the edges. And if you are worried about the skin discoloration, I think you can put it just about anywhere (not sure) that wouldn't typically be shown.

I have heard so many shot horror stories, so maybe this would be better.:rolleyes:

i'm on the patch, and have absolutely NO complaints.

if you follow the directions on how to put it on, and where to put it, there are no worries about stickin to clothes, coming off, or efficacy (and i've been on the patch for a year). i had no side effects (which based on genetics i would've had), besides the first week i ever used it (basically the body needs to get adjusted).

who cares about the skin tones, really? i mean it has the highest percent of accuracy (99.98%), and doesn't have the hassle of pills, or pain of shots.

Just stuff to think about
Hope I helped

I apologize if there is TMI;)

Come on, is remembering to take a pill once a day THAT much of a hassle? It would be worth it to me to avoid any little Munchkins running around.

I asked my doctor about the shot and she said she wouldn't give it to livestock. I heard that in some folks, it makes you not want sex anyway, so there is no point. You aren't protecting yourself from anything... cause you don't wanna do it anyway.

I experienced hair loss and hives from one pill I was on. Eventually I found one that didn't have side effects. I haven't heard anything good about the shot or the pill... except orthotricyclen. Lots of people tell me the skin thing is true.

I've never tried the patch but I'm on Triphasil 28 which is a pill. I never experienced nausea but "my girls" were a little tender in the beginning :p I haven't gained weight and my skin is clearer since I've started using this brand of pill. You just have to find out what's right for you.