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PCOS Philippines

PCOS (now called PMOS) symptom: Scalp

PCOS hair loss: why your hair is thinning and what helps

Pagnipis ng buhok. Thinning at the part line or crown, usually slow.

Editorially reviewed on October 29, 2026. [TODO: medical reviewer] How we review

Quick answer

In PCOS (now called PMOS), higher androgen activity can slowly shrink hair follicles on the scalp. This is called female pattern hair loss, and it usually shows as a wider part or thinning at the crown.

Options include the combined pill, spironolactone with effective contraception, and minoxidil with a dermatologist. Ask for ferritin (iron), thyroid and vitamin D checks too, because those can add to hair loss.

Bakit numinipis ang buhok ko?

The same androgens that cause chin hair can have the opposite effect on the scalp. In people whose scalp follicles are sensitive to androgens, each hair cycle produces a slightly thinner, shorter hair. Over time, the part line widens and the scalp shows more.

This is different from the sudden shedding many people notice after illness, stress or giving birth. Pattern hair loss is gradual, and you usually do not lose hair in clumps.

Hair loss is less common than acne or excess body hair in PCOS, but it is real and distressing for many. Some people worry about starting minoxidil or spironolactone and "becoming reliant" on them. That is a fair question to bring to a dermatologist.

How common is it? Less common than acne or excess body hair in PCOS, but a real and distressing feature for many.

Is it PCOS or something else?

Several common, treatable problems can thin your hair, with or without PCOS. Doctors usually check:

  • Low iron (ferritin): Low iron stores are a common, fixable cause of hair shedding in women who menstruate.
  • Thyroid problems: Both underactive and overactive thyroid can thin hair. TSH is a standard test in a PCOS workup.
  • Low vitamin D: Often checked alongside iron and thyroid.
  • Shedding after stress, illness or childbirth: This is sudden, diffuse shedding that usually recovers on its own within months.

A single symptom does not mean you have PCOS. Doctors diagnose it when you have two of three features (irregular ovulation, high androgens, and polycystic ovaries or a high AMH in adults), after ruling out thyroid, prolactin and other causes. The free self-check shows which features you may have.

What helps

Hair grows slowly, so every option takes months. Treatment aims to stop thinning and, for some, regrow hair:

  • Combined pillModerate evidenceLowers androgen activity, which can slow pattern hair loss. Prescription only.Althea (CPA 2 mg / EE 35 mcg) 21s: ₱540 per boxLearn more
  • SpironolactoneLimited evidenceAn anti-androgen, usually prescribed by a dermatologist, always with effective contraception. Prescription only.Spironolactone 25 mg (Spiros): ₱12 per tabletSpironolactone 25 mg (Aldactone): ₱19 per tabletLearn more
  • MinoxidilModerate evidenceA topical treatment used with a dermatologist's guidance. Results take months and need ongoing use.
  • Fixing iron, thyroid or vitamin DModerate evidenceIf a test shows a problem, treating it can help hair recover. Ask for ferritin, TSH and vitamin D.

Prices checked October 2026. Prices at Philippine drugstores and labs change often; confirm before you go.

Evidence levels follow the 2023 International Guideline. Prescription medicines need a doctor; we never sell them.

This guide is for information. Talk to a doctor before starting or changing any treatment.

When to see a doctor

  • A widening part or thinning at the crown.
  • Hair loss with irregular periods, acne or chin hair.
  • Sudden shedding in clumps or bald patches (a dermatologist should look).

An OB-GYN is the usual first stop. A consult at Kindred costs ₱850 per consult, and government hospitals cost less. See what a PCOS check-up costs and which tests to ask for.

Example

“My part line keeps getting wider.”

  • Ferritin, TSH, vitamin D
  • Dermatologist
  • Pill or spironolactone

Next steps

See all symptoms on the symptoms hub or the Symptom Map.

Frequently asked questions

Numinipis ang buhok ko. PCOS ba ito?

It can be. PCOS hair loss is gradual thinning at the part or crown, often with other androgen signs. But low iron, thyroid problems and low vitamin D are common causes too, so ask for those tests.

Will my hair grow back?

Treatment can stop thinning and, for some people, regrow hair. It takes months, and results differ from person to person.

Is minoxidil safe to start?

Minoxidil is a common topical treatment for pattern hair loss. Use it with a dermatologist's guidance, and ask about what happens if you stop.

Do I need contraception on spironolactone?

Yes. Spironolactone is always used with effective contraception because of risk to a developing baby.

Is PMOS the same as PCOS?

Yes. PMOS (polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome) is the new name for PCOS, announced in The Lancet on 12 May 2026. It is the same condition with the same diagnosis and the same treatments. Both names will be used until the 2028 International Guideline update.

Sources

  1. Recommendations from the 2023 International Evidence-based Guideline for the Assessment and Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Teede HJ et al., Fertility and Sterility (co-publication), 2023.
  2. Althea product listing (cyproterone acetate 2 mg, ethinylestradiol 35 mcg). Watsons Philippines, 29 October 2026.