Implanon and Alopecia: A Case Report

In a case report from 2006, a 30-year-old woman experienced a patch of hair loss after having the contraceptive implant Implanon® inserted. The patch of alopecia was approximately 5 cm in diameter and located at the left vertex of her scalp. There was no evidence of underlying skin disease, and the patient had no prior history of hair loss. Upon reporting the incident to Organon, the manufacturer of Implanon, they acknowledged alopecia as a common side effect, occurring in 1 in 10 to 1 in 100 users. The implant was removed, and hair regrowth began at the affected site. Subsequent tests, including a full blood count and hormone profile, were within normal ranges. The paper discussed the different types of alopecia and noted that while hair growth can be hormonally influenced, alopecia areata is not typically under hormonal control and is considered to be polygenically inherited and triggered by various factors. The progestogen in Implanon, etonogestrel, has a lower affinity for androgen receptors compared to other progestogens, suggesting it might be less likely to negatively affect hair growth. The case report concluded that the alopecia areata experienced by the patient might not be directly due to Implanon and could have occurred independently of the implant.