Androgenic Disorders of Women: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Decision Making

January 1995 in “ The American Journal of Medicine ”

Geoffrey P. Redmond

androgenic disorders alopecia androgen levels androgen receptors antiandrogens spironolactone cyproterone acetate flutamide hepatotoxicity finasteride 5α-reductase inhibitor hirsutism teratogenicity hair loss androgen blockers Propecia

From the encyclopedia

Spironolactone →

powerful topical and oral anti-androgen used mostly by women

Cyproterone →

a synthetic anti-androgen and weak progestogen that inhibits DHT binding to androgen receptor

Finasteride →

Frontline, gold standard treatment for combatting androgenic alopecia

Studysummary This review discusses the management of androgenic disorders in women, highlighting that treatment is generally more effective than recognized, though improvement may take weeks or months to appear.

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Research cited in this study

17 / 17 results

research Hepatotoxicity Complicating Flutamide Treatment of Hirsutism

43 citations , December 1993 in “Annals of internal medicine”

This letter discusses the first reported case of serious liver damage linked to the use of flutamide for hirsutism in a woman, highlighting a potential risk for hepatotoxicity with this treatment.

research The Clinical Development of a 5α-Reductase Inhibitor, Finasteride

211 citations , November 1990 in “The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology”

Finasteride effectively treats BPH, but needs more trials to understand potential.

research Antiandrogens: Clinical Applications

39 citations , November 1990 in “The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology”

This abstract reviews the use and effects of various antiandrogens, finding clinical benefits in treating hyperandrogenism in women and improvements in urinary symptoms or cancer management in men, but it reports no new clinical results.

research Treatment of Hirsutism with the Pure Antiandrogen Flutamide

130 citations , September 1990 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

This study found that combining flutamide with an oral contraceptive significantly reduced hirsutism, acne, and seborrhea in patients after seven months, without significant side effects.

research Treatment of Androgenic Disorders in Women: Acne, Hirsutism, and Alopecia

19 citations , July 1990 in “Cleveland Clinic journal of medicine”

This article reviews endocrine therapies for androgen excess disorders, emphasizing spironolactone, estrogen, and dexamethasone as effective treatments; it reports no new clinical results.

Treatment of Androgenic Disorders with Dexamethasone: Dose-Response Relationship for Suppression of Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate

research Treatment of Androgenic Disorders with Dexamethasone: Dose-Response Relationship for Suppression of Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate

18 citations , January 1990 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

This study found that dexamethasone effectively suppressed DHEAS levels in women with elevated levels using much lower doses than previously thought, without significant adverse effects.

research Androgenic Alopecia in Females: Diagnosis and Treatment

14 citations , July 1987 in “Dermatologic Clinics”

This article reviews current evaluation and treatment options for androgenic alopecia in women and reports no new clinical results.

research Peripheral Androgens And The Role Of Androstanediol Glucuronide

57 citations , May 1986 in “Clinics in endocrinology and metabolism”

This review found that women with idiopathic hirsutism may have increased 5α-reductase activity, as indicated by elevated levels of a dihydrotestosterone-reduced metabolite, but more research is needed to confirm its clinical relevance as a biomarker.

research Spironolactone in Combination Drug Therapy for Unresponsive Hirsutism

44 citations , June 1985 in “Fertility and sterility”

This study suggests that combination drug therapy with spironolactone and either oral contraceptives or dexamethasone effectively manages unresponsive hirsutism, with eight of nine patients achieving satisfactory clinical responses.

research Hirsutism: Evaluation and Treatment

42 citations , February 1985 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

This study reports that once neoplastic causes are excluded, functional hirsutism can be effectively treated with low-dose dexamethasone, oral contraceptives, and spironolactone.

research Effects of a Low-Dose Desogestrel-Ethinylestradiol Combination on Hirsutism, Androgens, and Sex Hormone Binding Globulin in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

53 citations , January 1985 in “Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica”

This study found that an 8-month treatment with a low-dose oral contraceptive significantly reduced testosterone levels and hair growth in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and hirsutism, with minimal side effects.

research 3 Alpha, 17 Beta-Androstanediol Glucuronide in Plasma: A Marker of Androgen Action in Idiopathic Hirsutism

179 citations , May 1982 in “The Journal of clinical investigation/The journal of clinical investigation”

This study found that plasma 3 alpha-diol glucuronide was markedly elevated in women with idiopathic hirsutism, suggesting it may be a marker of peripheral androgen action.

research Treatment of Hirsutism With Spironolactone

183 citations , March 1982 in “JAMA”

This study reported that spironolactone at 200 mg/day significantly improved facial hair growth in women with hirsutism and showed a sustained reduction in ovarian androgens over one year.

research A Novel Use of Spironolactone: Treatment of Hirsutism

124 citations , September 1980 in “The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism/Journal of clinical endocrinology & metabolism”

This study found that spironolactone significantly reduced hair growth in hirsute women, with noticeable effects in 3-5 months, and decreased serum testosterone levels in all participants.

research New Therapeutic Approach to the Hirsute Patient

60 citations , September 1979 in “Fertility and sterility”

This study found that spironolactone reduced testosterone production and urinary 17-ketosteroid excretion, leading to a decrease in hair growth rate and a change in hair texture in women.

research The Development and Evaluation of an Ovulation Inhibitor (Diane) Containing an Antiandrogen

33 citations , January 1979 in “Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica”

This study found that Diane®, a combination of cyproterone acetate and ethinyl estradiol, is an effective contraceptive and treatment for acne and seborrhea, but less effective for pronounced hair growth.

research Use of Cyproterone Acetate in the Treatment of Acne, Hirsutism, and Virilism

232 citations , June 1975 in “Journal of Steroid Biochemistry”

In this study, a treatment regimen combining cyproterone acetate and ethinyl estradiol significantly improved acne and seborrhoea in most women after three months, but had varied effects on hirsutism and alopecia.