TLDR Spironolactone may help reduce hair growth and testosterone levels in some women with hirsutism.
The study evaluated the anti-androgen effects of spironolactone in 12 hirsute patients, with nine completing the study. Over 12 months, three patients showed a significant decrease in hair diameter, although the overall group did not show changes in growth rate or mean diameter. Plasma testosterone levels fell to 53% of basal levels, and free testosterone levels dropped to 64% by the sixth month, remaining low for the rest of the study. Subjective improvements in hair growth and greasiness were noted, along with a significant reduction in the Ferriman-Gallwey index in nine out of 10 subjects assessed for at least nine months. The study concluded that spironolactone might be effective for a subset of patients with hirsutism, despite inconsistent results.
183 citations,
March 1982 in “JAMA” Spironolactone is a safe and effective treatment for reducing excessive hair growth in women.
124 citations,
September 1980 in “The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism/Journal of clinical endocrinology & metabolism” Spironolactone is effective in treating excessive hair growth in women.
60 citations,
September 1979 in “Fertility and sterility” Spironolactone can reduce hair growth in women with hirsutism.
23 citations,
July 1979 in “Canadian journal of biochemistry” Spironolactone reduces the number of androgen receptor sites in rat skin by blocking them with its metabolite.
39 citations,
November 1978 in “Annals of internal medicine” Spironolactone may help reduce excessive hair growth in women with high male hormone levels.
47 citations,
March 2004 in “European journal of endocrinology” Spironolactone plus finasteride reduces hirsutism more effectively.
76 citations,
December 1997 in “Fertility and Sterility” Finasteride reduces hair growth better, but spironolactone has more side effects.
124 citations,
September 1980 in “The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism/Journal of clinical endocrinology & metabolism” Spironolactone is effective in treating excessive hair growth in women.
