Safety and Clinical Considerations of Alopecia Therapies During Pregnancy, Fertility Treatment, and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Workup

    June 2026 in “ International Journal of Women’s Dermatology ”
    Anna Brinks, Carli Needle Lawrence, Caitlin A. Kearney … Daniela Majerson
    Studysummary This review highlights significant knowledge gaps in the safety of alopecia treatments during pregnancy, IVF, and PCOS contexts, noting that many medications lack robust safety data, and underscores the need for more targeted research to guide treatment decisions.
    Automatically generated from the study's abstract, not written by a person, and not a review of the full paper. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Read the original study, and consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
    Read the full study on doi.org →
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Research cited in this study 32

    1. Low-Dose Metformin and Profibrotic Signature in Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia JAMA Dermatology · 2024
    2. Physical Treatments and Therapies for Androgenetic Alopecia Journal of Clinical Medicine · 2024
    3. Spironolactone Use and Oocyte Maturation in Patients Undergoing Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics · 2024
    4. Treatment of Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia with Topical Metformin 10% Cream: Case Report and Literature Review International Journal of Dermatology · 2024
    5. Use of Diphenylcyclopropenone for Alopecia Areata Treatment During Pregnancy JAAD Case Reports · 2024
    6. Recommendations on the Clinical Management of Androgenetic Alopecia: A Consensus Document from the Spanish Trichology Group of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Actas Dermo-Sifiliográficas · 2023
    7. Androgenetic Alopecia: Therapy Update Drugs · 2023
    8. Alopecia Areata: An Updated Review for 2023 Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery · 2023
    9. Reversible Hair Loss in a Patient With Cicatricial Alopecia: A Case of Regrowth Associated With Pioglitazone Use JAAD case reports · 2022
    10. Comparison of Oral Minoxidil, Finasteride, and Dutasteride for Treating Androgenetic Alopecia Journal of Dermatological Treatment · 2022
    11. Pregnancy and Neonatal Outcome with Maternal Exposure to Finasteride: Case Series Journal of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery · 2021
    12. Topical Treatment for Scarring and Non-Scarring Alopecia: An Overview of the Current Evidence Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology · 2021
    13. Clascoterone as a Novel Treatment for Androgenetic Alopecia Clinical and Experimental Dermatology · 2020
    14. Hair Regrowth in Two Patients with Recalcitrant Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia After Use of Topical Metformin JAAD Case Reports · 2020
    15. Topical Antiandrogen Therapies for Androgenetic Alopecia and Acne Vulgaris American Journal of Clinical Dermatology · 2019
    16. New Changes in Pregnancy and Lactation Labeling: Review of Dermatologic Drugs International Journal of Women's Dermatology · 2019
    17. Medical Therapy for Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia: A Review and Clinical Approach Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology · 2019
    18. The Medical and Psychosocial Associations of Alopecia: Recognizing Hair Loss as More Than a Cosmetic Concern American Journal of Clinical Dermatology · 2018
    19. Finasteride Use During Pregnancy and Early Neonatal Outcome: A Case Report International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy · 2018
    20. Effectiveness of 308-nm Excimer Laser Therapy in Treating Alopecia Areata by Examining Treated Sides of Selected Alopecic Patches Dermatology · 2015
    21. Cicatricial (Scarring) Alopecias: Comprehensive Review and Management American Journal of Clinical Dermatology · 2012
    22. Topical Immunotherapy in Alopecia Areata International journal of trichology · 2010
    23. Effect of Finasteride on Ovulation Induction in Nonresponder (Hyperandrogenic) Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Women Fertility and Sterility · 2009
    24. The Effect of 5α-Reductase Inhibition with Dutasteride and Finasteride on Semen Parameters and Serum Hormones in Healthy Men The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism · 2007
    25. Intermittent Low-Dose Finasteride Is as Effective as Daily Administration for the Treatment of Hirsute Women Fertility and Sterility · 2004
    26. Ketoconazole as an Adjunct to Finasteride in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia in Men Medical Hypotheses · 2003
    27. Topically Applied Minoxidil May Cause Fetal Malformation: A Case Report Teratology · 2003
    28. Safety of Topical Minoxidil Solution: A One-Year, Prospective, Observational Study Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery · 2003
    29. The Therapeutic Use of Topical Contact Sensitizers in Benign Dermatoses British journal of dermatology/British journal of dermatology, Supplement · 2001
    30. Ketoconazole Shampoo: Effect of Long-Term Use in Androgenic Alopecia Dermatology · 1998
    31. The Influence of Cyclosporine A Therapy on Sex Hormone Levels in Pre- and Post-Menopausal Women with Primary Biliary Cirrhosis Journal of hepatology · 1994
    32. Hypertrichosis and Congenital Anomalies Associated With Maternal Use of Minoxidil Pediatrics · 1987