A Comparative Study of a Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonist and Finasteride on Idiopathic Hirsutism
January 2000
in “
PubMed
”
TLDR Both finasteride and GnRH agonist treatments reduced hair growth in women with idiopathic hirsutism, but GnRH agonist was more effective.
In a study conducted 23 years ago, 60 women with idiopathic hirsutism were treated with either 5 mg of finasteride or a long-acting GnRH agonist (depot leuprolide 3.75 mg) monthly for six months. The results showed that all patients treated with either finasteride or GnRH agonist experienced no menstrual abnormalities or side-effects. The mean percent change in hirsutism scores in the GnRH and finasteride groups was 36% +/- 14% and 14% +/- 11% at six months, respectively. Serum total testosterone, free testosterone, androstenedion and DHEA-S showed a significant decrease in patients treated with GnRH agonist. However, only serum total testosterone and free testosterone levels decreased with finasteride treatment.
