Anti-Androgen Treatments for Hirsutism and Acne in Women of Childbearing Age

    January 2010 in “ Annales d'endocrinologie
    Anne Bachelot, Nathalie Chabbert-Buffet, Sylvie Salenave, V. Kerlan, Marie-Béatrice Galand-Portier
    Image of study
    TLDR For women with moderate to severe unwanted hair growth or acne, birth control pills are the first choice, with other medications like cyproterone, spironolactone, flutamide, or finasteride as alternatives, and permanent hair removal should be done with electrolysis or laser.
    The document outlines the recommended treatments for moderate to severe hirsutism and acne in women of childbearing age. Estrogen plus progestin contraceptives (EPP) are suggested as the first-line treatment for moderate hirsutism and acne. For moderate to severe hirsutism, cyproterone acetate (CPA) at a dose of 50mg/day for 20 days out of 28, combined with estrogen, is recommended as the first-line treatment. Spironolactone is considered a second-line treatment in cases where CPA is not suitable due to side effects or contraindications. Flutamide or Finasteride are reserved as third-line therapies for severe hirsutism when other treatments are not appropriate, but they require concurrent contraception due to lack of market authorization for this indication. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogs are not recommended given the availability of other treatments. For long-term hair removal, only electrolysis or laser hair removal are advised. All these recommendations are graded as level C, indicating a lower level of evidence or expert consensus.
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Research cited in this study

    17 / 17 results

    Related Community Posts Join

    6 / 690 results

      community 21 months on topical minoxidil and full HRT

      in Transgender  214 upvotes 6 months ago
      The conversation is about a transgender individual's experience with hair regrowth using topical minoxidil and hormone replacement therapy (HRT), expressing concern about the slow growth and thin appearance of their hair. Some responses encourage patience and highlight the variability of results, while others discuss the role of HRT and its effects.

      community Female AGA - Low Cortisol/Low DHEA

      in Female  6 upvotes 1 year ago
      Female (37) experiencing hair loss for 5 years, tried max dose of spiro and oral + topical minox without success. Discovered low cortisol and low DHEA levels, seeking functional medicine practitioner for help.

      community my Body hair has stopped working

      in Finasteride/Dutasteride  44 upvotes 9 months ago
      A user on dutasteride for hair loss noticed hair regrowth on their head but a significant reduction in body hair growth. They plan to switch to finasteride and dutasteride and are considering testosterone replacement therapy but are concerned about its effects on hair growth.

    Similar Research

    5 / 1000+ results