TLDR Cyproterone acetate at 2mg daily is as effective as higher doses for treating excessive hair growth in women.
The study aimed to determine if cyproterone acetate (CPA) therapy for hirsute women demonstrated a dose response. It was a double-blind dose-ranging study involving 60 women over 12 months, with 38 completing the therapy. Participants received different doses of CPA combined with the Dlanette contraceptive pill. Significant reductions in clinical hair growth scores were observed across all doses, with no significant differences between the doses at any time points. Hair diameter measurements also showed reductions, particularly on the face, forearm, abdomen, and thigh. The study concluded that a daily dose of 2 mg CPA was as effective as higher doses for treating hirsutism.
78 citations,
May 1989 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism” Spironolactone effectively reduces hair growth in women with hirsutism and is generally well-tolerated.
43 citations,
May 1986 in “Clinics in Endocrinology and Metabolism” Cyproterone acetate is effective for treating hirsutism and acne but less so for hair loss, with side effects similar to birth control pills.
232 citations,
June 1975 in “Journal of Steroid Biochemistry” Cyproterone acetate is effective for acne but less so for hirsutism and alopecia, with some side effects and quick menstrual cycle recovery after treatment.
49 citations,
June 1998 in “Journal of Endocrinological Investigation” Cyproterone acetate plus ethinyl estradiol is generally more effective in treating hirsutism, but consider side effects and patient characteristics.
49 citations,
April 1997 in “Human reproduction” Hormone therapy for excessive hair growth is as good with GnRHa as with high-dose CPA, but GnRHa has longer-lasting results.
8 citations,
April 1991 in “European journal of endocrinology” 3α-AdiolG is a good marker for androgen activity in women with excessive hair growth and decreases with anti-androgen treatment.
8 citations,
November 1978 in “British journal of dermatology/British journal of dermatology, Supplement” Cyproterone acetate can effectively treat idiopathic hirsutism, but ethinyl oestradiol and lynoestrenol may not always reduce hair growth.
