Comparison of a Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonist and a Low Dose Oral Contraceptive Given Alone or Together in the Treatment of Hirsutism
December 1995
in “
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
”
Studysummary This study found that combining a GnRH agonist with a low-dose oral contraceptive was more effective in treating hirsutism than either agent alone and prevented hypoestrogenic side effects.
Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
The study conducted a 24-week double-masked trial with 64 women to evaluate the effectiveness of a combination of a GnRH agonist (nafarelin) and a low-dose oral contraceptive (norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol) in treating hirsutism. The results showed that the combination therapy significantly reduced total and free testosterone levels and decreased hair shaft diameter, which was not observed with either agent alone. Additionally, the combination therapy prevented the hypoestrogenic complications, such as hot flashes and bone loss, associated with GnRH agonist therapy alone. This indicated that the combination therapy was more effective and safer for treating hirsutism compared to using each treatment individually.
