Hair loss after IVF and fertility treatment: what may be behind it

Fertility treatment asks a lot of the body and the mind: daily injections, scans, procedures, waiting, and often grief. So it is not surprising that some people notice more hair in the shower during or after IVF or other fertility treatments, and wonder whether the medicines are to blame. The honest answer is that this has been studied very little. There are plausible explanations, a handful of known triggers that often overlap with fertility treatment, and practical steps to take. This guide explains what is known, what is not, and what to discuss with your fertility team or doctor.

(This article is general health information. It does not replace advice from your fertility specialist or doctor. Do not change or stop fertility medicines on your own.)

Short answer

Hair loss during or after fertility treatment is something many patients report, but it has hardly been studied. A 2025 report found no published research papers specifically on hair loss from assisted reproduction, even though online discussion of it has grown sharply ¹. Some medicines used in fertility treatment, such as letrozole and leuprolide, list hair loss as an uncommon side effect when used for other conditions, at much longer courses ^{1 2}. The most likely explanation in many cases is telogen effluvium, a temporary increase in shedding that starts 2 to 4 months after a physical or emotional stress, a hormonal change, a pregnancy loss or childbirth, and usually settles over months ^{3 4}. Other causes worth checking include iron deficiency, thyroid problems and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is itself a common reason for fertility treatment ^{5 6}. Speak to your fertility team before trying any hair loss treatment, because some are not suitable when trying to conceive.

What fertility treatment involves

Understanding the steps helps make sense of the timing. According to the NHS, a typical IVF cycle takes around 3 to 6 weeks. It often starts with a daily injection or nasal spray for 2 to 3 weeks to switch off the natural cycle, followed by about 2 weeks of daily injections to stimulate the ovaries, then egg collection under sedation, fertilisation in the laboratory, and transfer of an embryo into the womb, followed by a pregnancy test about 16 days later ⁷. Protocols vary from clinic to clinic.

Other fertility treatments include ovulation induction with tablets such as letrozole or clomiphene, and intrauterine insemination (IUI). Many people go through several cycles, with large hormonal shifts each time.

What the research says, and does not say

The most direct source on this topic is a 2025 research letter from a dermatology department in the United States ¹. Its findings:

• Searches of PubMed and a major clinical reference found no articles describing hair loss in the setting of assisted reproduction.
• The clinical reference did list hair loss as a side effect, in under 1% to 3% of patients, for letrozole and leuprolide, two medicines used in fertility treatment, but those figures came from their use in other conditions.
• Online searches and patient forum posts about hair loss with fertility treatment increased sharply from around 2020. Patients mentioned egg retrieval, leuprolide, letrozole, ovarian stimulation and clomiphene, and many described distress, including the added grief of hair loss after a failed cycle.
• The authors suggested hormonal effects on the hair follicle as a possible mechanism but noted that mechanistic studies are lacking.

In short, patient reports are common, but there is no good research yet on how often this happens, which protocols are most involved, or how long it lasts.

What about longer-term hormone medicines?

Some of the medicines used in fertility clinics are also used, at different doses and for much longer periods, to treat breast and prostate cancer. A systematic review of trials in those settings found an overall hair loss rate of about 4.4% with endocrine therapies, mostly mild ². That is a very different situation from a short fertility cycle, so those numbers should not be applied directly, but they show that hormone-blocking medicines can affect hair in some people.

The most likely explanation: telogen effluvium

Telogen effluvium is a common type of temporary hair shedding. A trigger pushes many hair follicles into the resting phase at once, and those hairs fall out together about 2 to 4 months later. Shedding is spread across the scalp, and in most cases it settles over about 6 to 9 months as new hairs grow ^{3 8}.

Several recognised triggers can overlap with fertility treatment:

• Hormonal shifts. Large changes in hormone levels are known triggers. DermNet lists childbirth and stopping the contraceptive pill among causes of telogen effluvium ³. Rapid hormone changes during and after a stimulated cycle may act in a similar way, although this has not been formally studied.
• Pregnancy and pregnancy loss. After childbirth, many people notice heavy shedding a few months later (postpartum telogen effluvium) ⁹. A miscarriage or the end of a pregnancy can also be a trigger.
• Emotional stress. Major emotional stress is a recognised trigger of telogen effluvium ⁴. Infertility and repeated cycles can be very stressful.
• Procedures and illness. Surgery, sedation, illness and complications such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome are physical stresses on the body ^{4 7}.
• Diet changes. Some people make big diet changes or lose weight quickly while preparing for treatment, which can also trigger shedding.

Because the shedding appears a few months after the trigger, it may show up after a cycle has finished, or during the next one. For more on the shedding pattern, see Sudden, severe hair fall: common causes and when to worry and Chronic telogen effluvium: when shedding lasts for months.

Other causes worth checking

Fertility treatment does not rule out other common causes of hair loss, and some are closely linked to fertility itself.

• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is a common hormone condition and a frequent reason for difficulty conceiving. Raised androgens can cause acne, excess facial or body hair, and thinning hair on the scalp ⁶. See PCOS and hair loss: the hormone link explained.
• Thyroid problems. Both underactive and overactive thyroid can affect hair, and thyroid function is often checked during fertility workups ¹⁰. See Thyroid problems and hair loss: signs to know.
• Iron deficiency. Low iron stores are common in women of reproductive age, especially with heavy periods, and are often checked in people with hair shedding ^{11 5}. See Anaemia, iron and hair loss: what the link is.
• Pattern hair loss. Gradual thinning at the top of the scalp with a widening part may be female pattern hair loss, which can be unmasked by a bout of shedding. See Telogen effluvium or pattern hair loss? How to tell them apart.
• Other medicines. Some medicines unrelated to fertility can also affect hair. See Medicines that can cause hair loss: what to know.

What is still unknown

Because the research is so limited, several common questions do not yet have firm answers ¹:

• How common it is. No study has measured how many people have noticeable shedding after fertility treatment.
• Whether some protocols carry more risk. Patients ask this often, but there is no comparison data.
• Whether it happens again with each cycle. Some people notice shedding after one cycle and not another, which fits the idea that several triggers combine differently each time.
• How long it lasts. If the cause is telogen effluvium, the general pattern is that shedding settles over months ³, but this has not been studied in fertility patients specifically.

Until better research is available, the practical approach is to treat it like any other episode of shedding: look for triggers, check for treatable causes and give the hair cycle time.

What to discuss with your fertility team or doctor

1. Timeline. Note when shedding started and when each cycle, egg collection, transfer, pregnancy loss or birth took place. A gap of 2 to 4 months between an event and shedding fits telogen effluvium ³.
2. Which medicines you used. Bring a list of all medicines and doses for each cycle.
3. Blood tests. Ask whether checks such as a full blood count, ferritin and thyroid function would be useful, if they have not been done recently ⁵. See Blood tests for hair loss: what may be checked and why.
4. Signs of excess androgens. Mention acne, excess facial hair or irregular periods, which can point towards PCOS ⁶.
5. Whether any change is reasonable. In some cases a clinic may be able to adjust a protocol, but fertility goals usually come first, and shedding is usually temporary.
6. Emotional support. The NHS recommends counselling for anyone having IVF, and clinics should offer it before, during and after treatment ⁷. Hair loss on top of fertility stress is a valid reason to ask for it.

Be careful with hair loss treatments while trying to conceive

Many hair loss treatments are not suitable during pregnancy or while trying to conceive. Finasteride and dutasteride should not be used by women who are or may become pregnant. Spironolactone is generally avoided when trying to conceive. Oral minoxidil is a prescription medicine that needs medical advice, and even topical minoxidil is usually avoided in pregnancy. Do not start any hair loss medicine, or high-dose supplement, without checking with your fertility specialist first. For a broader look, see Hair loss while breastfeeding: what to ask before using treatments and Hair changes during pregnancy: what is normal.

Gentle steps that are generally safe

• Handle hair gently. Use a wide-tooth comb, avoid tight hairstyles and limit heat and harsh chemical treatments while shedding is heavy.
• Eat regular, balanced meals. Enough protein, iron and overall energy support hair growth. Avoid crash diets.
• Track change with photos. Take pictures of your part and hairline every few weeks under the same lighting.
• Consider styling options. A shorter cut, a different part or volumising products can help hair look fuller while it recovers.
• Look after your mental health. Fertility treatment is hard. Support from your clinic, a counsellor or support groups can help ⁷.

When hair loss adds to the emotional load

For many people, hair loss during fertility treatment feels like one more loss on top of existing stress. That feeling is understandable. Some feel embarrassed to mention it because it seems minor next to the goal of becoming pregnant. But hair loss is a valid symptom to raise, and mentioning it helps a doctor check for treatable causes such as low iron or thyroid problems ⁵. If you feel very low or anxious, tell your fertility team and ask about counselling ⁷.

When to see a doctor sooner

• Shedding continues for more than about 6 months.
• You notice bald patches, broken hairs, redness, scaling or pain on the scalp.
• You have other symptoms such as marked tiredness, palpitations, weight change, acne or excess facial hair.
• During a stimulated cycle you have tummy pain and bloating, nausea, breathlessness or reduced urine. These can be signs of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and need urgent advice from your clinic ⁷.

Life in Malaysia

In Malaysia, fertility treatment is provided by public hospital fertility units and private fertility centres. Your fertility specialist is the best first contact for questions about medicines, and a GP or dermatologist can assess the scalp and order tests. Be careful with "hair fall" products sold online with dramatic claims, especially while trying to conceive; for cosmetic products, you can check notification status using the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency guidance ¹². You can check a doctor's registration with the Malaysian Medical Council ¹³. For over-the-counter products, see Hair loss products at the pharmacy: what to ask the pharmacist, and for an overview of treatments, see Hair loss treatment in Malaysia: a plain guide to your options.

Bottom line

Many people report hair loss during or after IVF and other fertility treatments, but research on it is almost absent ¹. In many cases the most likely explanation is telogen effluvium triggered by hormonal shifts, stress, procedures, pregnancy loss or childbirth, which usually settles over months ^{3 4}. PCOS, thyroid problems and low iron are worth checking ^{6 5}. Keep a timeline, talk to your fertility team before trying any hair treatment, and ask for emotional support if you need it ⁷.

Frequently asked questions

Can IVF cause hair loss?

Many patients report shedding during or after IVF, but it has barely been studied. A 2025 report found no published studies specifically on hair loss with assisted reproduction.

Which fertility medicines list hair loss as a side effect?

Letrozole and leuprolide list hair loss as an uncommon side effect, but those figures come from their use for other conditions, often for much longer courses.

What is the most likely reason for shedding after fertility treatment?

Often telogen effluvium: temporary shedding that starts about 2 to 4 months after a trigger such as hormonal change, stress, surgery, miscarriage or childbirth.

Will the hair grow back?

If the cause is telogen effluvium, shedding usually settles within several months and hair grows back, although this has not been studied specifically in fertility patients.

Should I stop my fertility medicines because of hair loss?

No. Do not stop or change fertility medicines on your own. Discuss the hair loss with your fertility specialist, who can weigh it against your treatment goals.

What tests might a doctor suggest?

A doctor may suggest a full blood count, ferritin and thyroid function tests, and look for signs of PCOS, depending on your history.

Can I use minoxidil or finasteride while trying to conceive?

Finasteride and dutasteride should not be used by women who are or may become pregnant, and other treatments such as minoxidil and spironolactone are usually avoided. Ask your fertility specialist first.

When should I see a doctor sooner?

If shedding lasts more than about 6 months, you see bald patches or scalp redness, or you have other symptoms. Abdominal pain, bloating or breathlessness during stimulation needs urgent contact with your clinic.

Educational content. Not medical advice.