QuestionQUESTION: My 17 year old is taking desogen and has been doing so for 8 months. Her hair has thinned like crazy. I know its the pill. The doctor wants to switch to yasmin, but I have read terrible things about this pill. What is the difference between desogen and yasmin? And why so many stories about yasmin causing blood clots, etc..
ANSWER: Hi Kathy,
All birth control pills have blood clots as a risk. However, this risk is extremely small in women with no history of heart problems or blood clots. The risk increases for women over 35 who smoke, but this is not an issue for your daughter. The progestin in Yasmin may increase potassium levels. This is a concern for someone who has kidney, liver, or heart problems. There have also been some studies suggesting that this particular progestin may have a higher risk of blood clots then other brands. Again, the risk is small for someone who is healthy. The difference between Desogen and Yasmin is with the type of progestin. Desogen uses a different progestin that does not have this affect on potassium.
Birth control pills can affect individual women differently, so if one has unwanted side effects it's best to try another. For hair thinning/loss, it is recommended that women try ones that uses a progestin with low androgen activity first. Both Desogen and Yasmin have this, however, they are not the only ones. I believe Ortho-Tricyclen and Ortho-cyclen, for example, also have this. If you are concerned about Yasmin, I suggest talking to the doctor about trying another brand first. There are many different brands out there so Desogen and Yasmin are not your only options.
I hope this helps. If you have further questions let me know.
-Mia
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Would having a family history of varicous veins and spider veins make a difference in picking a birth control pill? I told the doctor about what I have read about yasmin and she still thinks this is the best choice for hair loss. Do you know if hair loss due to hormonal shifts will come back?
AnswerHi Kathy,
Birth control pills can increase the risk of varicose veins, usually in women over the age of 35. I know women who have varicose veins should be careful when taking the pill. I am not sure about teens with a family history. It may pose a small increase. Does her doctor know about the family history? One option would be to try it for a short while and monitor her. If the hair loss does not improve then take her off it. Hair loss due to hormonal changes from the pill should come back once the hormones are shifted to a more optimal level.
I hope this helps. If you have further questions let me know.
-Mia
