TLDR Finasteride and flutamide effectively reduce hirsutism in PCOS women, with flutamide also lowering hormone levels.
The drugs finasteride and flutamide are effective in reducing hirsutism in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Both drugs significantly reduced hair growth in all body areas, with flutamide also causing a drop in testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate. Finasteride was found to be more effective in reducing hair diameter. The study involved 44 patients who took either drug for 6 months. The study concluded that both drugs are effective treatments for hirsutism in women with PCOS, with flutamide being more effective in reducing hormone levels and inducing dry skin compared to finasteride. However, more research is needed due to the small sample size of the study.
20 citations,
December 1994 in “Fertility and sterility” Flutamide combined with a low-dose birth control pill effectively reduces excessive hair growth in women with polycystic ovarian disease.
165 citations,
February 1994 in “Fertility and Sterility” Flutamide is more effective and has fewer side effects than spironolactone for treating hirsutism.
187 citations,
January 1994 in “The New England Journal of Medicine” Finasteride treats enlarged prostate and may help with baldness, but effects on sexual function and male fetuses are unclear.
27 citations,
October 1991 in “International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics” Flutamide effectively reduces hair growth in women with hirsutism and improves acne and seborrhea without side effects.
35 citations,
May 1986 in “Clinics in endocrinology and metabolism” The exact cause of increased 5α-reductase activity leading to hirsutism in women is still unknown.
38 citations,
January 1997 in “Gynecological Endocrinology” Finasteride and flutamide effectively reduce hirsutism in PCOS women, with flutamide also lowering hormone levels.
32 citations,
January 1990 in “Clinical Endocrinology” Women with female pattern hair loss have higher levels of certain androgens, suggesting increased androgen exposure to hair follicles.
135 citations,
March 1984 in “Fertility and sterility” Higher levels of unbound testosterone are linked to increased insulin resistance, especially in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
