21 year-old going bald :(

[mascott23]

i just turned 21 a little while ago. i suppose i started balding during my freshman year of college when i was 18/19 years old. I am not experiencing any hair loss on the sides, but rather in the center at mainly the crown/vertex of my scalp. It is thinner there and and it is CLEARLY evident that i am losing my hair! Ive done a great deal of reading about the treatments available and i am strongly considering taking either the rogaine shampoo or the foam. But one thing that deters me is that i hear that rogaine causes the hair shed before it potentially starts to re-grow hair. So, i was hoping if any of u guys out there had any experiences or any evidence to show the effectiveness of this drug.