From CANFP
Alesse Side Effects?
By John Gisla, MD, NFPMC
Feb 12, 2005, 09:58
Question
Hi,
I had a baby 3 months ago. Before my husband and I decided to try to get pregnant I was taking triphasil but after I had the baby my doctor switched me to alesse. Since taking the alesse I've had bleeding between periods and I've started to notice that I'm losing more hair than usual when I wash it. I read on the alesse website that scalp hair loss is a side affect. I made an appointment with my doctor but I can't get in until Dec 30. Should I stop taking the alesse right away? or finish this cycle? If I stop taking the alesse will the hair loss stop or will it continue to have an affect on the hair. I didn't have this problem on the other pill. Any information you could provide would be great.
Thank you.
Answer
Alesse is a lower dose contraceptive pill. It is not uncommon for women to have breakthrough bleeding on lower dose formulations. Some of the more serious complications of contraceptive pills (blood clots, heart attack) may be lower with lower dose formulations, but you should know that your risk of break-through ovulation (where you produce an egg during your cycle) is also likely higher. This means that you could become pregnant (if this egg is fertillized); if this happens, it is very likely that the pill would revert to its secondary method of working--namely by causing an early abortion.
Your hair loss is more likely due to your recent pregnancy, rather than your use of the pill. Women will very commonly have thinning of their hair (sometimes significant) following a delivery. Don't worry--your hair will regrow; but it will take time. Stopping the pill will probably not affect you hair either way. I would recommend, though, that you consider other methods of avoiding/spacing children. Natural Family Planning is just as effective as contraceptive pills for avoiding pregnancy, while avoiding the potential side effects of the pill. These side effects include higher risk of blood clots and heart attacks, and possibly higher risk of breast cancer later in life. In addition, the pill results in early abortions a certain percentage of the time (no one knows for sure how frequently... but for many people, even one abortion is too many. N.F.P. also empowers you by giving you a deeper understanding of your body and your menstrual cycle. If you decide to consider N.F.P. you could contact the CANFP for a list of instructors near you. You could begin by stopping the pill--you don't have to wait to the end of your current package. You may have some bleeding/spotting when you stop; and you may have delay of your next cycle as your body "resets" itself. Good luck on your decision.
Dr. Gisla
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