Rapid Facial Aging After Birth Control

Hi everyone,

A few years ago, my periods became irregular—I started having cycles every 21 days instead of every 28. I went to my doctor, and she prescribed birth control pills.

After about 9 months of continuous use, I stopped the pills. Two to three months later:

• I started losing hair from the crown and back of my head
• I experienced vaginal dryness
• I got really scared, so I went back on the pills after being off for 8 months

This time, after only 5 months on the pills and then stopping again:

• Hair loss spread across my entire scalp
• My face aged dramatically: under-eye hollows became very deep, cheek fat completely disappeared, and my skin sagged with noticeable lines
• Even fine facial hairs became darker and thicker
• Vaginal dryness again, and no libido
• My sleep got much worse—I now average only 5 hours per night, sometimes just 3, and I often wake up unable to fall back asleep
• I feel like my eyes have weakened
• I genuinely feel like I aged 15 years in just a few months

Although my testosterone and androgen levels are slightly above normal, and SHBG is low-normal, my hormone profile is actually similar to what it was before I ever took the pills, when my face was still youthful and full.

Now I’m 36.5 years old. When I last stopped the pills at 35, my face was still young, though I had some hair loss. Now, even though my periods are regular again (26-day cycles), my face looks hollow, the fat under my skin is gone, and lines have formed. I used to be very good-looking, but now I hate seeing myself in the mirror. I feel like it isn’t getting better after a year and a half—maybe even worse. I can’t think of anything else but my face; it’s really affecting everything.

I also feel like my eyes are weaker, sometimes sore, and I still experience vaginal dryness and literally no libido, which seriously affects my life. I’m single, and due to what happened, I can’t even date anyone anymore. I feel like these hormonal changes have destroyed my life, and I truly wish I had never taken these pills.

Has anyone else experienced rapid facial aging or these kinds of symptoms after starting or stopping birth control pills?
Has anyone been able to reverse these changes naturally or through treatment?