33 citations,
April 2015 in “Cochrane library” Some medicines can reduce excessive hair growth in women, but more research is needed to compare treatments and consider side effects.
23 citations,
February 2014 in “Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology” Low-dose finasteride reduces excessive hair growth in teenage girls safely and affordably.
40 citations,
November 2013 in “European journal of endocrinology” Effective hirsutism treatment for women with PCOS should be personalized and may include lifestyle changes and medication.
1265 citations,
October 2013 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” The guideline suggests using specific criteria to diagnose PCOS, recommends various treatments for its symptoms, and advises screening for related health issues.
17 citations,
October 2012 in “Dermatologic clinics” Treating excessive hair in women requires a holistic approach, including medical, aesthetic, and emotional support.
35 citations,
May 2012 in “Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews” Minoxidil effectively treats female pattern hair loss.
22 citations,
December 2011 in “British journal of dermatology/British journal of dermatology, Supplement” Over 40% of women have unwanted facial hair, which can affect their self-image, and should be managed with personalized treatment and support.
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.
13 citations,
September 2011 in “American Journal of Clinical Dermatology” The oral contraceptive ethinylestradiol/chlormadinone acetate is effective in reducing acne and improving other skin conditions related to high androgen levels.
22 citations,
August 2011 in “Endocrine Practice” Most hirsutism cases are due to PCOS, and treatment focuses on lowering testosterone and blocking its effects.
198 citations,
July 2011 in “Cochrane library” Lifestyle changes can improve body composition, excess male hormone levels, and insulin resistance in women with PCOS.
10 citations,
February 2011 in “Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft” The document concludes that proper diagnosis and evidence-based treatments are crucial for managing hair diseases, and psychological support for patients is important.
18 citations,
June 2010 in “Current medicinal chemistry” Treating hirsutism in women often requires a mix of medications and cosmetic methods for best results.
41 citations,
April 2010 in “Gender Medicine” The conclusion is that hirsutism should be diagnosed and treated because it affects quality of life and may signal other health problems.
14 citations,
March 2010 in “Gynecological endocrinology” New treatments for excessive hair growth in women include insulin modulators and enzyme inhibitors.
60 citations,
February 2010 in “Gynecological Endocrinology” Metformin combined with lifestyle changes improves insulin resistance and reduces testosterone levels in women with PCOS more than lifestyle changes alone.
31 citations,
November 2009 in “European journal of dermatology/EJD. European journal of dermatology” Experts made a guide to help doctors evaluate women with too much hair growth.
90 citations,
July 2009 in “PTR. Phytotherapy research/Phytotherapy research” Spearmint tea may reduce testosterone and self-reported hair growth in women with PCOS.
112 citations,
April 2009 in “Cochrane library” Spironolactone may reduce excessive hair growth in women but its effectiveness for acne is not supported.
9 citations,
January 2009 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology” 
18 citations,
January 2009 in “Journal of Endocrinological Investigation” Flutamide works better than finasteride for hirsutism, and combining both is slightly better but not much.
209 citations,
September 2008 in “Dermatologic Therapy” Androgens can both increase and decrease hair growth in different parts of the body.
67 citations,
September 2008 in “Dermatologic therapy” Hirsutism is excessive hair growth in women often caused by polycystic ovarian syndrome, and identifying the cause is important for managing associated health risks.
66 citations,
September 2008 in “Dermatologic therapy” The conclusion is that the best initial treatment for hirsutism is usually oral contraceptives, with the addition of antiandrogens or insulin sensitizers if needed, and topical eflornithine or laser treatments as supplementary options.
121 citations,
April 2008 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism” Insulin sensitizers may slightly reduce hirsutism but are less effective than other treatments.
150 citations,
February 2008 in “The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism/Journal of clinical endocrinology & metabolism” Antiandrogens are somewhat effective in reducing excessive hair growth in women.
31 citations,
January 2008 in “Gynecological endocrinology” Both birth control pills improved hormone levels and skin conditions in women with hyperandrogenism, but the one with drospirenone was more effective.
75 citations,
November 2007 in “Clinical endocrinology” Certain medications including flutamide, spironolactone, and others effectively reduce excessive hair growth in women, especially when combined with lifestyle changes.
125 citations,
February 2007 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” 
1744 citations,
August 2006 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Polycystic Ovary Syndrome should be seen mainly as a condition of excess male hormones, with a focus on this in its definition.
133 citations,
July 2006 in “International Journal of Dermatology” 
167 citations,
January 2006 in “Gynecological Endocrinology” Women with PCOS have lower quality of life, especially in mental health and energy, and managing weight can help improve it.
271 citations,
December 2005 in “New England journal of medicine/The New England journal of medicine” The document likely offers guidance on treating a woman's excessive hair growth, considering her symptoms and obesity.
3 citations,
November 2005 in “Journal of Research in Medical Sciences” 
29 citations,
September 2004 in “Fertility and Sterility” Intermittent low-dose finasteride works as well as daily use for treating excessive hair growth in women.
39 citations,
August 2004 in “International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics” Finasteride and CPA-EE2 equally reduce hirsutism, but affect hormone levels differently.
47 citations,
March 2004 in “European journal of endocrinology” Spironolactone plus finasteride reduces hirsutism more effectively.
947 citations,
February 2004 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Most women with excess male hormones have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, and hormonal therapy can improve symptoms but may cause side effects.
4025 citations,
December 2003 in “Human Reproduction” The 2003 consensus updated PCOS diagnosis criteria and linked PCOS to higher risks of diabetes and heart problems, recommending lifestyle changes to lower these risks.
32 citations,
October 2003 Spironolactone is better than placebo for reducing excessive hair growth in women, but its effectiveness for acne is unclear due to small study sizes.
78 citations,
October 2003 in “Cochrane library” Cyproterone acetate with estradiol may subjectively improve excessive hair growth in women, but it's not clinically better than other treatments.
192 citations,
September 2003 in “The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism/Journal of clinical endocrinology & metabolism” Metformin is effective for treating excessive hair growth in women with PCOS and may work better than the standard treatment in some ways.
64 citations,
May 2003 in “Journal of health psychology” Women with excess body hair feel psychological distress influenced by societal beauty standards, but distress isn't directly linked to the amount of hair.
195 citations,
May 2003 in “Obstetrics and gynecology (New York. 1953. Online)/Obstetrics and gynecology” Most women with excess hair growth have an underlying hormonal issue, often treated with medication and hair removal methods.
56 citations,
April 2003 in “Fertility and Sterility” All three treatments reduce hirsutism, but spironolactone works best long-term.
40 citations,
January 2003 in “Gynecological Endocrinology” Finasteride effectively reduces hair growth in women with polycystic ovary syndrome or idiopathic hirsutism.
59 citations,
January 2003 in “Phytomedicine” Fennel extract cream can reduce hair thickness in people with excessive hair growth.
12 citations,
December 2002 in “Fertility and Sterility” Spironolactone plus finasteride works better for treating hirsutism.
51 citations,
October 2002 in “European journal of endocrinology” Low-dose finasteride effectively treats hirsutism, is safe, and cost-effective.
90 citations,
August 2002 in “European journal of endocrinology” Metformin improves hair growth and menstrual frequency in women with PCOS and hirsutism.
74 citations,
April 2002 in “PubMed” Both oral contraceptives reduced acne effectively and had similar positive effects on skin oiliness and hair growth.
27 citations,
December 2001 in “Clinical and experimental dermatology” Different hair removal methods have pros and cons, and more evidence is needed to prove laser treatments work.
63 citations,
March 2001 in “Fertility and Sterility” Diane 35 plus finasteride is more effective for treating hirsutism.
27 citations,
January 2001 in “Endocrine Practice” Finasteride cream reduces hair growth in women with hirsutism, but more research needed.
50 citations,
May 2000 in “Fertility and Sterility” Flutamide reduces hair growth better but has more side effects.
50 citations,
April 2000 in “Fertility and Sterility” Diane 35 plus finasteride is more effective in reducing hair growth and androgen levels, but may decrease libido.
46 citations,
January 2000 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” 
16 citations,
January 2000 in “The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism/Journal of clinical endocrinology & metabolism” Antiandrogen drugs can reduce PSA levels in women with excess hair, suggesting PSA is a sign of male hormone activity in women.
10 citations,
January 2000 in “PubMed” Both finasteride and GnRH agonist treatments reduced hair growth in women with idiopathic hirsutism, but GnRH agonist was more effective.
94 citations,
January 2000 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Spironolactone most effective for hirsutism, but has side effects.
75 citations,
October 1999 in “European journal of endocrinology” Finasteride is a safe, effective treatment for hirsutism with fewer side effects.
32 citations,
July 1999 in “Fertility and Sterility” Finasteride and flutamide both reduce hair growth, but finasteride has fewer side effects.
113 citations,
April 1999 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Cyproterone acetate-estrogen most effective for hirsutism, but consider side effects and patient needs.
75 citations,
March 1999 in “Fertility and sterility” Finasteride, CPA, and flutamide are all equally effective in reducing excessive hair growth in women.
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.
8 citations,
January 1998 in “PubMed” 
76 citations,
December 1997 in “Fertility and Sterility” Finasteride reduces hair growth better, but spironolactone has more side effects.
1 citations,
October 1997 in “PubMed” Finasteride and flutamide can effectively treat hirsutism, with abdominal hairs showing the most sensitivity to the treatment.
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.
38 citations,
January 1997 in “Gynecological Endocrinology” Finasteride and flutamide effectively reduce hirsutism in PCOS women, with flutamide also lowering hormone levels.
50 citations,
July 1996 in “Fertility and Sterility” Finasteride effectively treats hirsutism in women, but more research needed for long-term results.
18 citations,
January 1996 in “Gynecologic and obstetric investigation” The oral contraceptive alone is the preferred treatment for hirsutism, as adding the GnRH analog showed no significant benefit.
132 citations,
October 1995 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” Electrolysis is effective for permanent hair removal, but technique is key to avoid scarring, and sometimes hormonal treatment is needed for women with hirsutism.
70 citations,
August 1995 in “Fertility and Sterility” Finasteride reduces hairiness and androgen levels in women with unexplained excessive hair growth.
52 citations,
January 1995 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Finasteride and spironolactone both reduce hirsutism, but finasteride lowers androgen levels more.
34 citations,
January 1995 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” 
4 citations,
December 1994 in “PubMed” Cyproterone acetate with estradiol improved women's self-confidence and emotional well-being without a difference between oral or transdermal methods, but younger women preferred the oral method.
165 citations,
February 1994 in “Fertility and Sterility” Flutamide is more effective and has fewer side effects than spironolactone for treating hirsutism.
94 citations,
July 1991 in “Clinical endocrinology” Cyproterone acetate at 2mg daily is as effective as higher doses for treating excessive hair growth in women.
68 citations,
May 1991 in “The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism/Journal of clinical endocrinology & metabolism” Both cyproterone acetate and spironolactone effectively reduce hair growth in women with hirsutism.
4 citations,
January 1991 in “Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology” The photographic method accurately measures hair growth and both treatments effectively reduced hair growth in hirsute women.
23 citations,
July 1989 in “Postgraduate medical journal” Spironolactone did not make hair thinner in women with excess hair growth.
17 citations,
February 1989 in “Fertility and sterility” Cimetidine did not reduce hair growth in women with hirsutism.
20 citations,
August 1987 in “Journal of steroid biochemistry/Journal of Steroid Biochemistry” Aldactone was more effective in reducing hair growth in women with hirsutism than Diane, despite having less impact on hormone levels.
16 citations,
January 1987 in “Dermatology” The spironolactone cream did not reduce hair growth in women with hirsutism.
5 citations,
January 1987 in “Gynecologic and obstetric investigation” Cyproterone acetate implants were more effective at reducing facial hair and improving skin in severe hirsutism than oral treatment.
18 citations,
August 1985 in “European journal of endocrinology” Cyproterone acetate is effective for treating hirsutism, but some patients may feel worse on low-dose maintenance therapy.
142 citations,
February 1985 in “Fertility and sterility” Spironolactone reduced hair thickness and some testosterone levels in women with excessive hair growth.
53 citations,
January 1985 in “Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica” Low-dose oral contraceptives reduced hair growth and testosterone levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
2 citations,
January 1984 in “Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry” Benzodiazepines changed hormone levels but did not affect hair growth in women with idiopathic hirsutism.
33 citations,
January 1979 in “Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica” Diane® is an effective contraceptive that also helps treat acne and mild hair growth issues.
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.
