Question:

My fience is going on birth controll, but she is nervious about some of the side effects. Most of the research i found out said that most of the side effects will go away after 2-3 months. But she is worried about possible hair loss. My question is this; what percentage of women on the pill experience side effects, and of those side effects, how many experience hair loss? Any other suggestions

Answer:

What you state is true, the most common side-effects of headaches, nausea, breast-tenderness and spotting improve after the first 2-3 months. The exact incidence is difficult to determine with the various preparations, but it ranges somewhere between 10-20% during the first 2-3 months and then 0-5% thereafter. Hair loss is not a side effect that is reported with the pill. Numbers regarding hair loss are not kept, but I would assume it to be less than 1%. All of these side effects are reversible if they are severe and not tolerated. 

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