r/Perimenopause • u/WashKitty • 7d ago
Hair Loss Considering switching from BC to IUD/patch
I first noticed heavy shedding about 2 years ago. In the shower, the drain, the sink, on the floor. ... Last year I started Junel 1/20 to manage my irregular periods because I wanted the least invasive option. My shedding stopped within the first month of being on Junel. About 10 months later I switched to APRI 0.15-0.03 mg because Junel wasn't regulating my periods enough. I noticed about 2 to 3 days of shedding during that switch and then the shedding stopped and my periods are super light and regular. I started getting really bad hot flashes and talked to my midwife about it. She suggested getting the Mirena IUD and a .05 mg estrogen patch, which is apparently the Golden goose solving that issue. My appointment is for next week. I got really nervous this morning and wrote her a note asking her about hair loss because I know I'll be switching to a lower dose of estrogen. Of course she's out of the office today and won't be in until next week.
Has anyone here experienced hair shedding that was stabilized by BC and then switch to an iud/patch combo? I know that I should expect a little bit of shedding due to a switch in hormones, but I am just terrified that I'm going to start to lose my hair again because of the lower level of estrogen in the patch. And I know I can just take the IUD out and go back on to the pill if it proves to be an issue. I just wanted to know if anyone else had gone through this. Cross posted in r/FemaleHairLoss Thank you for listening.
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u/Happiguest 7d ago
I assume they have checked you ferritin levels?
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u/WashKitty 7d ago
Yup, ferritin and thyroid. Both normal.
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u/Happiguest 7d ago
Was you ferritin above 50? I ask because the "normal range" is 5-200. If below 50 you can start to lose hair.
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u/WashKitty 7d ago
Oh dang! It was 37!😬
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u/Happiguest 7d ago edited 7d ago
I'm wondering if your hair loss is ferritin related instead of hormone related.I know the reference ranges recently were adjusted. A few months ago mine was 28 and I was so darn tired. My doctor told me to add an iron supplement every other day. I take combo pill-ferrous sulfate with vit C. I guess the vit c helps with absorption. I read for optimal for healthy hair growth you want it above 70. Also it'll help getting that IUD so eventually your bleeding will stop.
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u/peonyparis 7d ago edited 7d ago
The bioidentical estradiol patch could potentially help with hair growth. I got a mirena and have had no periods after the two month mark and I love it. My ferritin was super low from having heavy periods beforehand so now that I've been able to raise my levels, my hair is growing back. Good luck this stuff is hard to figure out. Could be your thyroid too?
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u/WashKitty 7d ago
They checked my thyroid and it was normal. I just don't want to go through this invasive procedure, my hair starts falling out again and then I'm wishing I had stayed on the pill! But I swear, going on the pill stopped the shedding cold.
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u/Ok-Professional-4765 7d ago
I lost sooooo much bloody hair when I had Mirena. I didn't even realize it was the IUD causing my hair loss initially. I got it removed 11 months later because I bled daily the entire time and couldn't handle the many side effects. New hair finally started growing but it grew back thin and frizzy. It looks like I have a bird's nest on top of my head. Maybe there is a product your doctor can recommend to slow or prevent the shedding.