Spironolactone Reduces Facial and Body Hair in Women with Hirsutism

    October 1986 in “ Inpharma ”
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    TLDR Spironolactone helps reduce hair growth in women with hirsutism but may cause menstrual irregularities.
    In a study from 1986, 48 premenopausal women with either idiopathic hirsutism or hirsutism associated with polycystic ovary syndrome were treated with spironolactone at a dosage of 100mg three times daily. After 3 months, the participants experienced a 39% reduction in facial hair and a 29% reduction in body hair, with similar reductions across all body parts. A smaller, yet significant, reduction in body hair was observed at 12 months in 16 patients. Subjective assessments reported by 42 patients indicated moderate or marked improvement. However, the treatment caused menstrual irregularities in some women, including polymenorrhoea in 3 out of 22 women with regular menses and various changes in menstrual patterns in 16 out of 22 women with oligomenorrhoea. Other side effects included transient nausea and mild diuresis. The study concluded that spironolactone was effective in reducing hair growth in women with hirsutism, but suggested that further research was needed to determine if a lower dose could maintain the improvements while causing fewer menstrual irregularities.
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      community Female, 30, PCOS diagnosis, MPB Norwood 2. Endo refuses to give anything other than Spironolactone. Feel like I’m at my wit’s end here.

      in Female  53 upvotes 1 year ago
      A 30-year-old female with PCOS and male pattern baldness is frustrated with her endocrinologist's recommendation of only Spironolactone and minoxidil, feeling that dutasteride, finasteride, and progesterone would be more effective. Other users suggest various online sources for treatments, warn against self-medicating due to potential risks, and recommend seeking a specialized endocrinologist or considering additional treatments like Inositol, Berberine, and dermaneedling.

      community Finasteride 5mg & Spironolactone 100mg

      in Female  2 upvotes 3 weeks ago
      A 20-year-old female is using finasteride 5mg and spironolactone 100mg for severe hirsutism and is experiencing minor side effects like water weight loss and irregular periods. She is concerned about potential future side effects and hair regrowth on her scalp.

      community AA and Hirsutism but T levels are normal

      in Female  8 upvotes 3 years ago
      27-year-old female experiences aggressive hair thinning and hirsutism despite normal testosterone levels. Spironolactone and 2% minoxidil were ineffective; high DHEA sulfate levels may be the cause.

      community Spironolactone or bicalutamide prescription

      in Treatment  4 upvotes 1 year ago
      The conversation is about someone seeking a doctor in the EU who prescribes spironolactone or bicalutamide for female pattern hair loss, as they are having difficulty finding treatment options beyond Minoxidil in Austria. They are asking for recommendations and are open to direct messages for assistance.

      community Spironolactone for 11 years, finasteride for almost 5 years, started oral minoxidil in November 😢 ended oral contraceptive in Dec.

      in Progress Pictures  224 upvotes 8 months ago
      A user shared their 11-year experience with spironolactone and nearly 5 years with finasteride for hair loss, recently adding oral minoxidil and stopping birth control. Various treatments were discussed, including organic options, checking for underlying health issues, considering dutasteride, and the potential role of progesterone in hair loss.

      community No, Finasteride as a treatment for MPB was not an "accident"

      in Research/Science  105 upvotes 3 years ago
      Finasteride was intentionally developed to treat BPH and later approved for male pattern baldness (MPB) due to its 5AR inhibition effects. The delay in MPB approval was due to concerns about off-label use for female hirsutism and the prioritization of treating a more debilitating condition.

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