Just informed by new PCP hair loss could be due to PCOS...

[AshleyGreen]

I was dx with PCOS in 1997. Since then we have had two children. The first was conceived after I lost approx 25 pounds. My second son was conceived after taking Glucophage for two months. SHortly after the birth of my second son (12/03) I started noticing hair loss. At first I thought it was due to my wacky hormones, etc. Then my blood pressure went back up and my internist put me on BP meds. I then thought maybe it was the BP meds causing hair loss since it was a "rare" side effect of both meds. I finally started seeing a new internist who just informed me that my hair loss could be due to the PCOS. I go back for f/u on BP in two weeks and we will discuss in detail. Has anyone had experience with hair loss and if so was it treated? What did you take? Did it stop the hair loss? And finally, did your hair start to grow back?? Thanks for ANY info!!!

[asrai]

I had really bad hairloss. It finally got so bad my stylist refused to let me grow it out or put in layers (they way I'd always worn it before, since it's always been very thick and curly or frizzy, depending on the weather). I had a bald spot on my front right of my head, just behind my bangs that I had to try to keep covered.

I'm in Spironolactone for it now, and have been for a little over a year. Within 6 months my hair was back to normal! Okay, I still have a little bit of that bald spot, but it's only obvious if I'm not careful when I put my hair up in a ponytail to work out. Otherwise I have so much hair everywhere else it's not noticable.

Good luck!

[lovelyinkedlady]

ashley,

I'm 26, and i a few years back started noticing my hair falling out. I mean i had hair to my butt and it was so thick that scrunchii would only fit around it 2 times and 3 on a squeeze. I can now with no problem wrap it 3times and depending on the scrunchii 4 times. My hair is falling out due to pcos because with pcos you carry high amounts of male hormones thats the reason for being apple shape and male pattern baldness......right at the back of your head.

I've never had it treated but i do know there is treatment for it. I hope that the dr can give you a better idea.

[MommyJenny74]

Hi Ashley,
I too have thinning hair. I think the met has helped. (I take 1500 mg/day), not to regrow the hair but at least to keep it from falling out by the handfulls! I also found I had lots more hair loss after the births of my children. Also when I went off the BCP's to try to get pregnant with my daughter, my hair thinned really fast. I have never tried spiro since the met seems to help. I did try rogaine and I think it helped but I stopped it after about 3 months because I got pregnant. Hope this helps! And email me or pm me if you want to talk!
Jenny

[Rebecca527]

Yeah, I'm in the same boat. When I was younger, I had so much hair, it's not even funny. Now it's really thin and baby fine. I have noticed a lot of loss in the front 'bang' area, and on the top of the crown of my head. Typical 'male-pattern' baldness that's associated with PCOS. I have noticed since being on the Metformin that it's significantly slowed down the loss. Now I only lose a few strands in the shower as opposed to the handfuls I used to lose. I also use a special shampoo...Nexxus VitaTress. It has also slowed down the loss. I have gotten to the point that I'm not worrying about re-growing what I've lost because I'm not really sure that it can happen for me, but I just want it not to get any worse!

[Jen K]

Hi Ashley,

I also have hair loss caused by PCOS. I have been on met (2,000mg/day) and spiro (50mg/day) for a few months (about 4 months actually) and have not noticed any improvement at all yet. I was, and still am really hoping that these meds will help slow down (or totally stop if I'm lucky) the hair loss. I'm told that it's not noticable to others, but I notice it and am really concerned that if it keeps up at this rate, it won't be long before I have glaring bald spots on my head and have to resort to wearing wigs.

At my next doctor's appointment, I am going to discuss this and try to get things moving a bit more.

Jen K