Case study: Yasmin contraception and hair loss (alopecia)

Background information

After three months of being prescribed contraception Yasmin, a female in her twenties suffered a large amount of hair loss (alopecia). She suspected this might be due to the medicine she was taking, so she checked the patient information leaflet (PIL) found inside the packaging.  There was no mention of hair loss under the possible side effects section, so she went to her local pharmacy. 

Her pharmacist discussed her side effects and the medicines in case there was a link to other medicines. She was also asked her if any of her family members had hair loss, which they did. However, she had never had any history of hair loss herself.  The pharmacist advised her to go to her doctor and she was encouraged her to complete a Yellow Card report, which she did online. 

Investigation

Through routine assessment by our experts, her Yellow Card report caused a more thorough review of this issue. It revealed another 14 similar reports had been received. At the time of the review, most cases of hair loss were recovered or recovering. 

Result

The review resulted in the patient information leaflet (PIL) being updated to include hair loss (alopecia) under ‘uncommon side effects’: out of every 1,000 women who use Yasmin between 1 and 10 may be affected. 

Additional information

Alopecia is hair loss, can be caused by an illness, stress, cancer treatment, weight loss, iron deficiency. 

Yasmin is a contraceptive pill used to prevent pregnancy.

Return to the Yellow Card scheme case studies page or submit a report.