An important question to ask men and women before they are prescribed or recommended hair loss medications is whether they are planning to begin a family any time soon. This is because certain hair loss medications can result in abnormalities in the foetus or other side effects that can potentially be dangerous for the baby.

Propecia, a common hair loss medication, can cause abnormalities in the foetus if it is taken by the man throughout his partner’s pregnancy and breastfeeding stages. Because of this, it’s important that when a couple decide to start trying for a baby, the man ceases to take Propecia seven days before they start trying to conceive, because this is how long it takes for Propecia to leave the system. Of course, women trying to conceive should not be taking Propecia at any time, firstly because the latest research says that it is unsuitable for pre-menopausal women, and secondly because of the risks to the foetus.

The reason behind the potential danger of a foetus’s exposure to Propecia (particularly if the foetus is male) is that Propecia inhibits the creation of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is essential for the development stages of the foetus. However, blocking DHT in men over the age of 18 (who are not trying to get pregnant) presents no problem, as DHT performs no useful purpose after puberty.

Of course, women can become pregnant by accident when contraceptives fail to work. However, providing that their partner ceases to take Propecia (to avoid prolonged exposure to the foetus) there should be no problem. Indeed, there have been no reported cases of foetal abnormality in such cases.

For women, the same applies to their use of minoxidil; treatment should not be continued whilst pregnant and whilst breastfeeding. This is due to the fact that minoxidil can be passed onto the baby whilst in the womb and also via breast milk. However, men can continue to use minoxidil when they’re trying to start a family and throughout their partner’s pregnancy.

In terms of other hair loss treatments, always check with your GP with regards to whether you can take it whilst trying for a family, and you can also read the leaflet contained within the medication for more information. The Hair Max LaserComb, a device cleared by the FDA to promote hair growth and treat hair loss, can be used by pregnant women and their partners, as it works by emitting a low power laser onto the scalp to stimulate the follicles and as such no medication is involved.

Those keen to keep their hair healthy throughout pregnancy could also consider taking a tailored nutritional supplement, although it’s important to check that other supplements you may be taking don’t mean that you’re exceeding your recommended daily allowance of any vitamins or minerals.

It’s also worth noting that pregnant women lose a lot less hair than they normally would due to pregnancy hormones causing fewer hairs to shed. Because of this, after the baby has been born, post-partum hair loss will occur and women can lose up to half of the hair on their head, however this should grow back within six months. If hair fails to grow back, it may be that post-partum shedding has masked the onset of female pattern hair loss, which can be treated with a minoxidil-based hair loss treatment programme.