TLDR Most women with excess male hormones have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, and hormonal therapy can improve symptoms but may cause side effects.
In a study conducted from 1987 to 2002, 873 patients with symptoms of androgen excess were analyzed. The majority of patients (82.0%) were diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), while other conditions such as idiopathic hirsutism and hyperandrogenic insulin-resistant acanthosis nigricans syndrome were less common. Of the 257 patients assessed for response to hormonal therapy, improvements were seen in hirsutism (86%), menstrual dysfunction (80%), and acne (81%), but only 33% saw improvements in hair loss. However, over 60% of patients experienced side effects like irregular vaginal bleeding, nausea, and headaches. The study concluded that specific identifiable disorders were observed in about 7% of subjects, while functional androgen excess, mainly PCOS, was observed in the remainder.
112 citations,
April 2009 in “Cochrane library” Spironolactone may reduce excessive hair growth in women but its effectiveness for acne is not supported.
195 citations,
May 2003 in “Obstetrics and gynecology (New York. 1953. Online)/Obstetrics and gynecology” Most women with excess hair growth have an underlying hormonal issue, often treated with medication and hair removal methods.
108 citations,
January 2003 in “Fertility and Sterility” Flutamide may slightly improve hair loss in women, but finasteride does not work.
491 citations,
July 2000 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Polycystic ovary syndrome is found in 6.5% of unselected Caucasian women in Spain.
216 citations,
November 1999 in “Fertility and Sterility” Testing basal 17-HP levels is a good way to screen for nonclassic adrenal hyperplasia in women with high androgen levels.
633 citations,
September 1998 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” PCOS affects a similar percentage of Black and White women in the Southeastern United States.
135 citations,
August 1994 in “Clinical Endocrinology” Most women with hirsutism or androgenic alopecia had polycystic ovaries, especially if they had irregular periods.
165 citations,
February 1994 in “Fertility and Sterility” Flutamide is more effective and has fewer side effects than spironolactone for treating hirsutism.
44 citations,
June 1985 in “Fertility and sterility” Combination drug therapy is effective for hirsutism that doesn't improve with just one medication.
39 citations,
May 2011 in “European Journal of Clinical Investigation” Hirsutism can be caused by various conditions besides PCOS, and it's important to treat the underlying issue and manage symptoms with medication and cosmetic approaches.
33 citations,
September 2008 in “Dermatologic therapy” Doctors should know how to diagnose and treat PCOS, which often involves checking for high male hormone levels and using medications to manage symptoms.
947 citations,
February 2004 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Most women with excess male hormones have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, and hormonal therapy can improve symptoms but may cause side effects.
195 citations,
May 2003 in “Obstetrics and gynecology (New York. 1953. Online)/Obstetrics and gynecology” Most women with excess hair growth have an underlying hormonal issue, often treated with medication and hair removal methods.
