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.