TLDR Some steroid-induced health issues in rodents improved after stopping treatment, but hair loss and eye problems did not.
The study investigated the effects of long-term administration of contraceptive steroids, specifically quingestanol acetate and quinestrol, on rodents over 50 weeks, followed by a 30-week observation period. The treatment led to several adverse effects, including hair loss, ataxia due to pituitary enlargement, mammary chain masses with adenocarcinoma, lens opacities, ovarian atrophy, and uterine atrophic changes. After cessation of treatment, some conditions, such as mammary gland tumors and ataxia, showed regression, while hair loss and lens opacities persisted. The study highlighted the potential for regression of certain steroid-induced pathologic changes, although tegumentary and ocular changes remained unaffected.
24 citations,
July 1980 in “Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health” High doses of norethindrone acetate in rats caused various organ changes but didn't significantly increase tumor rates.
36 citations,
July 1980 in “Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health” High doses of ethynylestradiol in rats caused growth issues, organ changes, and some tumors, but didn't increase overall tumor rates.
61 citations,
January 1970 in “Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology”
25 citations,
September 1977 in “Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health” High doses of some contraceptive steroids cause health issues in dogs, but their relevance to humans is unclear.
15 citations,
August 2016 in “Current Urology Reports” Nandrolone and oxandrolone could help treat male health issues like muscle loss and low testosterone.
64 citations,
January 1998 in “Drugs” Dienogest combined with ethinylestradiol is a highly effective birth control that improves menstrual symptoms and has manageable side effects.
43 citations,
May 1986 in “Clinics in Endocrinology and Metabolism” Cyproterone acetate is effective for treating hirsutism and acne but less so for hair loss, with side effects similar to birth control pills.
16 citations,
July 2002 in “JOGC/Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology Canada” Birth control pills can help reduce mild to moderate acne in women.