The Effect of an Oral Contraceptive Containing Ethinylestradiol and Desogestrel on Hair Growth and Hormonal Parameters of Hirsute Women

October 1986 in “ International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics ”

Kristiina Ruutiainen

ethinylestradiol desogestrel oral contraceptive hirsutism testosterone sex hormone binding globulin dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate EE-DG birth control pill DHEAS SHBG

TLDR The contraceptive reduced hair growth and altered hormone levels in hirsute women.

A study involving 22 hirsute women treated with an oral contraceptive containing 0.030 mg of ethinylestradiol and 0.150 mg of desogestrel (EE-DG) for 6 or 12 months showed a decrease in hair growth in 17 participants after 6 months. The treatment led to a significant reduction in the testosterone/sex hormone binding globulin (T/SHBG) ratio and serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) levels. There was a correlation between changes in hirsutism and the T/SHBG ratio (rho 0.36, P < 0.05). The study suggested that the therapeutic effect of EE-DG was due to combined changes in hormone levels.

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Research cited in this study

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research Effects of a Low-Dose Desogestrel-Ethinylestradiol Combination on Hirsutism, Androgens, and Sex Hormone Binding Globulin in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

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research The Treatment of Hirsutism with a Combination of Desogestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol

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The Effect of an Oral Contraceptive Containing Ethinylestradiol and Desogestrel on Hair Growth and Hormonal Parameters of Hirsute Women

Research cited in this study

research Effects of a Low-Dose Desogestrel-Ethinylestradiol Combination on Hirsutism, Androgens, and Sex Hormone Binding Globulin in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

research The Treatment of Hirsutism with a Combination of Desogestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol

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