PCOS And Hair Loss: Why It Happens, And What You Can Do
Last reviewed on 30 July 2026. We review our treatment guides every six months to keep them accurate.
Key points
PCOS is a common hormonal condition that can cause hair loss on the scalp. It is now officially called polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) by the NHS, but most people, and this guide, still call it PCOS.
The hair loss it causes is female pattern hair loss: diffuse thinning over the top of the scalp and a widening centre parting, driven by the higher levels of androgens (hormones such as testosterone) that come with PCOS.
The same androgens can cause the opposite problem elsewhere, unwanted hair growth on the face and body (hirsutism), which is why some women with PCOS have both thinning scalp hair and excess facial hair at once.
Treating the hair usually means treating the hormones. Options a doctor may consider include anti-androgen tablets such as spironolactone, the combined contraceptive pill, and topical minoxidil for the scalp, alongside managing the PCOS itself.
Because PCOS also affects periods, fertility, weight, mood and long-term health, hair loss is best dealt with as part of the whole condition, with a GP, rather than in isolation.
See a GP if you have hair thinning along with irregular periods, unwanted facial or body hair, acne, or difficulty losing weight, so PCOS can be checked for and other causes ruled out.
Hair thinning is one of the more distressing effects of PCOS, and one of the less talked about, sitting alongside the periods, weight and fertility issues that tend to get more attention. It is common, it has a clear hormonal cause, and it can usually be helped, though helping it means looking at the underlying condition rather than the hair alone.
This guide explains why PCOS causes hair loss, what it looks like, how it is diagnosed, and what treatments genuinely work, drawing on NHS and British Association of Dermatologists guidance. It is general information and not a substitute for advice from your GP.
What is PCOS, and what is PMOS?
PCOS, polycystic ovary syndrome, is a common condition in which the ovaries and the body's hormones do not work quite as they should. One thing worth clearing up first is the name: the NHS has recently renamed the condition polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, or PMOS, so you may now see it called that. It is the same condition, and because PCOS is still the name almost everyone knows and uses, this guide uses PCOS throughout.
According to the NHS, its cause is not fully known but is thought to involve hormones such as insulin and testosterone not working properly, and it can run in families. As well as hair loss, it can cause irregular or infrequent periods, unwanted hair growth on the face and body, weight gain, difficulty getting pregnant, acne and oily skin, and effects on mood. Symptoms vary widely, and some women have only a few.
Why does PCOS cause hair loss?
The link is androgens. PCOS is characterised by higher-than-usual levels of androgens, the group of hormones that includes testosterone, which are present in all women in smaller amounts but are raised in PCOS.
On the scalp, in women who have inherited a sensitivity to androgens, those higher levels drive the same process that causes female pattern hair loss: the follicles on the top of the head gradually miniaturise, producing hairs that are progressively finer, shorter and lighter until they stop, as the British Association of Dermatologists describes. The British Association of Dermatologists specifically notes that female pattern hair loss may accompany conditions in which androgen levels are elevated, such as PCOS. In PCOS the hair loss can begin earlier than the typical female pattern, sometimes in the 20s or 30s.
The same hormones produce a striking paradox. While androgens thin the hair on top of the scalp, they thicken and darken hair elsewhere, so many women with PCOS notice unwanted hair growth on the face, chest or abdomen (hirsutism) at the same time as thinning on the head. It is the same hormonal driver acting differently on different follicles, which is why the two so often go together.
What does PCOS hair loss look like?
It follows the female pattern rather than the male one. That means diffuse thinning mainly over the top of the scalp, with the centre parting becoming wider and more visible, while the hairline at the front is usually preserved. It is not the receding hairline or bald crown of male hair loss, and it is not the distinct bald patches of alopecia areata. Our guide to the Ludwig scale shows how this pattern is graded.
Because hair loss in PCOS often comes with other signs, the pattern is a clue rather than a diagnosis on its own. Thinning scalp hair together with irregular periods, unwanted facial or body hair, acne or weight gain is the combination that points towards PCOS and is worth having checked, so that the underlying condition, and not just the hair, can be addressed.
How is PCOS diagnosed?
If you have symptoms that suggest PCOS, the NHS advises seeing a GP, who may arrange tests with a hormone or reproductive specialist. These typically include blood tests to check hormone levels and for insulin resistance, and, in women over 18, an ultrasound scan to look at the ovaries. There is no single test, and the diagnosis is made from the combination of symptoms, blood results and scan.
Getting a diagnosis matters for more than the hair. PCOS is linked with a higher long-term risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and other conditions, so it is something to identify and manage rather than to treat one symptom at a time. It is also why a GP is the right starting point for PCOS-related hair loss, rather than a hair clinic.
How is PCOS hair loss treated?
Treating PCOS hair loss generally means addressing the hormones behind it, and it works best as part of managing the whole condition. The main approaches a doctor may discuss are these.
Anti-androgen medicines. Because androgens drive the hair loss, medicines that block them can help. Spironolactone is the one most often used, and others exist. These are not licensed specifically for hair loss, so their use is off-label and a matter for a doctor, and they only work while taken. They must be avoided in pregnancy because they can affect a developing baby.
The combined contraceptive pill. The combined pill lowers the level of free androgens circulating in the body, which can help both the scalp thinning and the unwanted facial and body hair, and it also regulates periods. The NHS lists it among the treatments for PCOS symptoms.
Topical minoxidil. Applied to the scalp, minoxidil can slow the loss and partly restore hair in some women, whatever the cause. It needs several months of use and only works while it is used.
Treating the PCOS itself. The NHS notes that medicines such as metformin, used for the insulin problems in PCOS, and, where relevant, weight management, are part of treatment. Bringing the underlying hormonal and metabolic picture under better control can help the hair as well as the other symptoms.
None of these is a quick fix, and the right combination depends on your particular situation, your other symptoms and whether you are trying to conceive, which is exactly why this is a conversation with a GP or specialist rather than a decision to make from a website.
Living with PCOS hair loss
PCOS hair loss can be particularly hard because it often arrives young and alongside other changes to appearance and health, and because the same condition can cause unwanted hair to grow where it is not wanted while thinning it where it is. That is a lot to carry, and it is a legitimate thing to seek help and support for, not something to simply put up with.
Alongside medical treatment, gentle hair care, volumising products and cosmetic hair fibres can help with the appearance of thinning hair, and a well-cut style can make a real difference. For the wider condition, the PCOS charity Verity offers information and peer support for women living with PCOS, and a GP can help with the emotional impact as well as the physical symptoms.
The reassuring points are that PCOS hair loss has a clear, understood cause, that it does not usually lead to complete baldness, and that it can be slowed and often improved by treating the hormones behind it. A hair transplant is occasionally considered in stable, well-controlled cases, but it is a private procedure and never a first step, and it is only sensible once the underlying condition is properly managed and medical treatment has been tried.
Frequently asked questions
Does PCOS cause hair loss?
Yes. PCOS raises levels of androgens such as testosterone, and in women genetically sensitive to them this drives female pattern hair loss: diffuse thinning over the top of the scalp with a widening parting. The same hormones can also cause unwanted facial and body hair, so scalp thinning and excess facial hair often occur together in PCOS.
Can PCOS hair loss be reversed?
It can often be slowed and partly improved, but not usually fully reversed, because affected follicles gradually shrink. Treatment aimed at the hormones, such as anti-androgen medicines, the combined pill and treating the PCOS itself, along with topical minoxidil, gives the best chance, and starting earlier protects more hair. A GP can advise on the right approach.
Is PCOS the same as PMOS?
Yes. The NHS has renamed polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), so you may now see it called PMOS on NHS pages. It is exactly the same condition. Because PCOS remains the far more widely used name, most people and most guides, including this one, still call it PCOS.
What is the best treatment for PCOS hair loss?
There is no single best treatment; it depends on your symptoms and whether you are trying to conceive. Doctors commonly use anti-androgen medicines such as spironolactone, the combined contraceptive pill, and topical minoxidil for the scalp, alongside managing the PCOS itself with measures such as weight support and metformin where appropriate. Because these interact with fertility and the rest of the condition, it is a decision to make with a GP or specialist.
Should I see a GP or a hair clinic for PCOS hair loss?
A GP first. PCOS hair loss is a symptom of a whole-body hormonal condition that also affects periods, fertility, weight and long-term health, so it needs to be diagnosed and managed as a whole, not treated as an isolated hair problem. A GP can confirm the diagnosis, arrange the right tests, and start treatment, and refer you onward if needed.
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