Short answer: Sometimes, partly. Hair loss linked to PMOS (formerly PCOS) is usually female pattern hair loss, which tends to progress slowly and rarely grows back fully on its own. Topical minoxidil is the best-studied treatment and can slow thinning and regrow some hair in many women, but it only works while you keep using it. Shedding from other causes, such as stress, childbirth or low iron, usually recovers by itself once the trigger is gone.
If you have PMOS, it can feel unfair that the same hormones that cause unwanted hair on your face and body can also thin the hair on your head. You are not imagining it. In a 2025 review that pooled 18 studies and more than 3,400 women with PCOS, about 23% had female pattern hair loss.[3] The good news is that there are treatments with real evidence behind them, and some common causes of shedding are fully reversible.
PMOS, previously called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), was renamed after a global consensus published in May 2026. The new name reflects that the condition affects several hormone systems and metabolism, not just the ovaries.[2] We use PMOS in this article, and “PCOS” when we describe older studies.
Why does PMOS cause hair loss?
PMOS often comes with higher levels of androgens, the group of hormones that includes testosterone. Androgens do different things in different parts of the body. On the face, chest and stomach, they turn fine, light vellus hair into coarse, dark terminal hair, which is what causes hirsutism.[8] On the scalp, in people who are genetically prone, they can do the opposite and gradually shrink hair follicles so that each new hair grows back thinner and shorter.
The full picture is more complicated in women than in men. Most women with female pattern hair loss have normal androgen levels in their blood, and genes play a large part.[4] The International PCOS Guideline also notes that hair loss on its own, without hirsutism, is only a weak sign of high androgen levels.[1] So PMOS can contribute to thinning, but it is rarely the only factor.
What PMOS hair loss looks like
Female pattern hair loss causes diffuse thinning over the top of the head, often noticed as a wider part or a ponytail that feels smaller. Unlike male pattern baldness, it usually does not start with a receding hairline.[4] Doctors may use visual scales such as the Ludwig or Olsen scale to grade it.[1]
Is it really hair loss, or shedding?
Losing about 50 to 100 hairs a day is normal.[5][6] Heavy shedding is different from pattern hair loss. It is called telogen effluvium and is often triggered by childbirth, high stress, a high fever, surgery, losing 20 pounds or more, or stopping birth control pills. It is usually temporary, and hair often regains its fullness within 6 to 9 months once the trigger has passed.[5] Low iron and thyroid disease are other common, treatable causes of thinning.[6][10]
This matters because many women with PMOS have more than one thing going on. If your hair loss started suddenly, it is worth asking your doctor to look for these other causes before assuming it is all hormonal.
Can hair loss from PCOS be reversed?
It depends on the cause. Shedding after a stressful event, an illness or childbirth usually stops by itself and the hair grows back.[5][10] Female pattern hair loss is different. DermNet, a dermatology resource, describes it as a condition with no cure, where treatment mainly aims to slow or stop it, although some women do regrow hair. Treatment needs at least six months before you can judge whether it is working, and long-term treatment is usually needed to keep the benefit.[4]
So the honest answer is: Partly. Many women can stop the thinning and get some hair back, but most need to stay on treatment. Without treatment, female pattern hair loss tends to progress slowly over the years.[4]
Treatments that can help
Below are the main options, with how strong the evidence is for each one. Most studies were done in women with female pattern hair loss in general, not specifically in women with PMOS.
Topical minoxidil
Evidence: Strong Minoxidil solution or foam, applied to the scalp, is the most studied treatment. A Cochrane review, which pooled 47 randomized trials with 5,290 women, found that minoxidil worked better than a placebo for regrowing hair and increasing hair count. The quality of that evidence was rated moderate to low, mostly because of how the trials were run. The 2% and 5% strengths showed no clear difference in effect.[7]
- It only works while you use it. The NHS notes that the effect is not expected to last once you stop.[6]
- Give it at least six months before deciding whether it is working.[4]
- The stronger 5% version is more likely to irritate the scalp and can cause unwanted hair growth elsewhere, such as on the face.[4]
- It does not work for everyone, and no hair loss treatment is 100% effective.[6]
Low-dose oral minoxidil
Evidence: Limited Some dermatologists prescribe minoxidil as a low-dose tablet, sometimes combined with spironolactone. DermNet reports that this combination has been shown to reduce shedding and improve density.[4] The Cochrane review predates most of this research, and we were not able to verify a large trial in women, so we rate the evidence as limited for now. It is a prescription treatment that needs medical supervision.
Anti-androgens, such as spironolactone
Evidence: Limited Anti-androgens block the effect of androgens on the hair follicle. The International PCOS Guideline says anti-androgens combined with the pill could be tried for female pattern hair loss because of its psychological impact, but it is clear that evidence in women with PCOS is lacking.[1] The Cochrane review also called for proper trials of spironolactone and similar drugs.[7]
Anti-androgens can harm a male baby’s development during pregnancy, so they must be combined with reliable contraception.[1][8] Of the available options, the guideline notes that spironolactone at 25 to 100 mg a day has a lower risk of side effects, while some alternatives carry risks such as liver damage.[1] Read more in our guide to hirsutism medication.
The combined birth control pill
Evidence: Limited The combined pill is the first-line medication for hirsutism in women who are not trying to get pregnant.[8] For hair loss specifically, the guideline mentions it mainly as a partner to anti-androgens, and we found no strong evidence that the pill alone regrows scalp hair.[1] Note that stopping the pill can itself trigger a temporary bout of shedding.[5]
Finasteride and laser combs
Evidence: Limited In the Cochrane review, finasteride 1 mg was no more effective than a placebo in women, based on low-quality evidence. Low-level laser combs did not clearly beat sham devices for women’s own rating of regrowth, although hair counts rose more, and the results were inconsistent.[7] Finasteride also carries a risk of liver problems, according to the International PCOS Guideline.[1]
Biotin, keratin and other hair supplements
Evidence: None Biotin is often sold for hair growth. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements says the claims are supported, at best, by a few case reports and small studies, and true biotin deficiency is rare in people who eat a normal diet.[9] There is a practical risk too: High doses of biotin can interfere with some blood tests, including thyroid tests, and give falsely normal or abnormal results.[9] If you take biotin and are having hormone tests, tell your doctor.
We found no studies showing that keratin supplements, apple cider vinegar or baking soda rinses, or scalp oils such as coconut, jojoba or avocado oil reverse female pattern hair loss. A gentle shampoo and conditioner, a cool hair dryer setting and avoiding tight hairstyles are sensible ways to treat fragile hair kindly, but they will not change the underlying cause.
What about treating PMOS itself?
Healthy lifestyle habits, such as regular exercise and a balanced diet, are recommended for everyone with PMOS. They improve metabolic health even without weight loss, and no single diet or type of exercise has been shown to be better than the others.[1] There is no good evidence yet that lifestyle changes alone regrow scalp hair, but they support overall health and may help other symptoms. For more on how food affects androgens, see our guide to foods and hirsutism.
If you also have unwanted facial or body hair, it can help to understand the difference between hirsutism and PMOS, and to check how much hair growth is typical with our hirsutism self-check.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if you are worried about hair loss, if it is affecting how you feel, or before paying for a commercial hair clinic.[6] A doctor can check for other causes such as thyroid problems or low iron. See a doctor promptly if you notice:
- Hair loss that starts suddenly or gets worse quickly over a few months
- Hair loss together with rapidly increasing facial or body hair
- A deepening voice, an enlarged clitoris or increased muscle mass, which are signs of virilization
- Irregular or missing periods
- Patchy bald spots, or a red, scaly or painful scalp
A dermatologist is usually the best specialist for hair loss itself. Our guide to which doctor to see explains who does what.
Frequently asked questions
Will my hair grow back if I treat my PMOS?
Not necessarily. Hair loss caused by a temporary trigger often grows back once it is treated, but female pattern hair loss usually needs a hair-specific treatment such as minoxidil, and that treatment needs to continue to keep the benefit.[4][10]
How long does minoxidil take to work?
Plan on at least six months before judging the results.[4] If it works for you, the benefit lasts only as long as you keep using it.[6]
How many hairs a day is normal to lose?
About 50 to 100. Shedding much more than that, especially in handfuls, is worth discussing with a doctor.[5]
Does biotin help PCOS hair loss?
There is no good evidence that it does unless you are deficient, which is rare. It can also distort some blood test results.[9]
Is PMOS hair loss permanent?
Female pattern hair loss tends to progress slowly without treatment, but treatment can often slow or stop it, and some women regrow hair.[4]
Key takeaways
- About 1 in 4 women with PMOS (formerly PCOS) have female pattern hair loss.
- Shedding from stress, childbirth or illness usually recovers on its own; pattern hair loss usually does not.
- Topical minoxidil has the best evidence, takes at least six months and only works while you use it.
- Anti-androgens such as spironolactone may help but are not well studied for hair loss, and they need reliable contraception.
- Biotin, keratin and scalp oils have no good evidence for reversing hair loss.
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Sources
- Teede HJ, Tay CT, Laven JJE, et al. Recommendations from the 2023 International Evidence-based Guideline for the Assessment and Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2023;108(10):2447-2469. PubMed 37580314
- Teede HJ, et al. Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, the new name for polycystic ovary syndrome: a multistep global consensus process. Lancet. 2026;407(10545):2329-2339. Published online May 12, 2026. PubMed 42119588
- Rayner DG, McMullen E, Mundle K, et al. Bi-directional association between female pattern hair loss and polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAAD Int. 2025;23:24-26. PubMed 41035753
- DermNet. Female pattern hair loss. Accessed October 2026. Link
- American Academy of Dermatology. Do you have hair loss or hair shedding?. Accessed October 2026. Link
- NHS. Hair loss. Accessed October 2026. Link
- van Zuuren EJ, Fedorowicz Z, Schoones J. Interventions for female pattern hair loss. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;(5):CD007628. PubMed 27225981
- Martin KA, Anderson RR, Chang RJ, et al. Evaluation and Treatment of Hirsutism in Premenopausal Women: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2018;103(4):1233-1257. PubMed 29522147
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Biotin: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Accessed October 2026. Link
- MedlinePlus. Hair loss. Accessed October 2026. Link
This article is for education and is not medical advice. Talk to a doctor about diagnosis and treatment.