PIP: 2 types of hair loss are associated with oral contraceptive (o.c.) use. A diffuse effluvium begins 3-5 months after beginning o.c. use, but usually stops spontaneously after a few weeks. The loss of hair is completely harmless and seems to occur most often in conjunction with combination preparation use. Androgenetic alopecia is a more serious hair loss condition, which usually occurs after 6 months of o.c. use. This type of hair loss can only be caused by o.c.s whose gestagen component is a nortestosterone derivative. In the case of androgenetic alopecia, a change to a nortestosterone-free o.c. or discontinuation of o.c. use is indicated. Androgenetic alopecia which occurs spontaneously is treated with gestagens with an anti-androgenic effect, e.g. cyproterone acetate or chlormadinone acetate. The concentrations of these compounds in o.c.s is generally not sufficient to treat androgenetic alopecia. Special preparations such as Androcure are used instead.