Medroxyprogesterone Acetate Therapy in Hirsutism

In a pilot study involving 26 hirsute females, medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) was administered in three different forms: as a 0.2% topical ointment to 13 patients, as subcutaneous injections to 5 patients, and as intramuscular injections to 13 patients, with each treatment lasting an average of 16 weeks. The study found that subcutaneous injection yielded the best clinical results, followed by intramuscular injection, and then topical application. Hair diameter was reduced by an average of 33% in 12 patients. While serum androgen levels were not affected by the topical treatment, they were decreased by both intralesional and intramuscular injections. This suggests that MPA may work at the cellular level when applied topically, and can reduce systemic androgen levels when injected, contributing to its effectiveness in treating hirsutism.