TLDR Cyproterone acetate treatment is safe and causes mild feminization, which increases with added estrogen.
The study retrospectively analyzed the effects of Cyproterone acetate (CA), an antiandrogenic progestin, alone and in combination with estrogens (E) on 27 late-pubertal transgender female adolescents. The participants were initially treated with CA monotherapy for an average of 12 months, followed by a combination of CA and incremental doses of estrogens for an average of 16 months. The treatment led to a decrease in facial and non-facial hair growth, with one-third of the participants experiencing breast development during CA monotherapy, which increased during the combined CA + E treatment. Side effects reported included breast tenderness, emotionality, fatigue, and flushes, but no significant weight changes were observed. Main safety parameters indicated a decrease in hemoglobin and hematocrit, a transient and modest increase in liver enzymes during CA, and slight changes in lipid levels. Gonadotropins decreased and testosterone levels dropped throughout the treatment, while prolactin levels increased with CA and normalized with CA + E. The study concluded that CA treatment was safe, well-tolerated, and induced mild feminizing effects, with rapid feminization following the addition of estrogens. However, the study's limitations included its modest sample size and retrospective nature.
116 citations,
December 2013 in “The Journal of Pediatrics” Most youth with gender dysphoria received hormones, had minor complications, and showed a decrease in suicide attempts after treatment.
855 citations,
June 2009 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism” The guideline recommends mental health involvement in diagnosing gender identity disorder and outlines hormone and surgical treatment protocols, emphasizing safety, informed consent, and long-term monitoring.
176 citations,
August 2000 in “The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism/Journal of clinical endocrinology & metabolism” Hormone treatments in transsexual individuals reduce hair growth and oil production in male-to-females and increase them in female-to-males.
378 citations,
November 2011 in “Human reproduction update” Experts recommend using evidence-based methods to diagnose and treat hirsutism, focusing on symptoms and underlying causes.
Hormonal treatments can help with hair loss, acne, and excess hair growth, but it takes 3-6 months to see results and patients should know the possible side effects.
1 citations,
October 2010 in “Cambridge University Press eBooks” Hormonal therapies are effective for managing hair and skin symptoms in women with PCOS.
November 2020 in “Elsevier eBooks” Antiandrogens and androgen inhibitors like spironolactone, finasteride, and dutasteride can treat hair loss and skin conditions, but they have risks and side effects, including potential harm to pregnant women and risks of cancer and heart issues. Herbal remedies also have antiandrogenic effects but lack safety validation.
467 citations,
October 2014 in “European Journal of Endocrinology” The European Society of Endocrinology advises individualized long-term management for PCOS, focusing on lifestyle changes, accurate diagnosis, and treatments for associated health risks and symptoms.
