Treatment of Androgen Excess in Females: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

January 1997 in “ Gynecological Endocrinology ”

Enrico Pucci, Felice Petraglia

TLDR The document concludes that treating androgen excess needs patience, managing expectations is important, and many drugs used are not officially approved, suggesting cosmetic options for mild cases.

The 1997 document reviews treatments for androgen excess in females, addressing conditions like hirsutism, acne, and androgenic alopecia. It emphasizes the psychological impact of these conditions and the need to rule out serious underlying issues. Treatment strategies include surgery, glucocorticoids, gonadotropin secretion inhibitors, and androgen receptor blockers, with potential future treatments like somatostatin analogs. The document details various pharmacological options, such as GnRH antagonists, estrogens, progestogens, oral contraceptives, adrenal suppressants, anti-prolactinemic drugs, and antiandrogens like cyproterone acetate and spironolactone, discussing their efficacy, side effects, and specific uses. It also mentions non-pharmacological approaches like weight reduction and cosmetic measures. The paper concludes that treatment requires patience, managing patient expectations is crucial, and that many drugs used for hyperandrogenism are not officially licensed for this purpose, suggesting cosmetic treatments as an alternative for milder cases.

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27 / 27 results

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Cyproterone acetate at 2mg daily is as effective as higher doses for treating excessive hair growth in women.

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Cimetidine did not reduce hair growth in women with hirsutism.

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Spironolactone reduced hair thickness and some testosterone levels in women with excessive hair growth.

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Common baldness, also known as Androgenetic Alopecia, is caused by a combination of genetic factors and hormones called androgens.

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232 citations , June 1975 in “Journal of Steroid Biochemistry”

Cyproterone acetate is effective for acne but less so for hirsutism and alopecia, with some side effects and quick menstrual cycle recovery after treatment.

research HAIR DIAMETER IN FEMALE BALDNESS

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research BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF ANTIANDROGENS

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Antiandrogens may help treat conditions like excessive hair growth, prostate tumors, male baldness, and acne by blocking male hormone effects.

research HAIR-ROOT ADAPTATION TO MARASMUS IN ANDEAN INDIAN CHILDREN

32 citations , December 1969 in “The Lancet”

Children with marasmus have more resting hair follicles and thinner, less pigmented hair, showing long-term malnutrition.

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research HAIR LOSS IN WOMEN

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3 / 3 results

research Approach to Investigation of Hyperandrogenism in a Postmenopausal Woman

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research The Evaluation and Management of Hirsutism

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.

research Treatment of Androgen Excess in Females: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

9 citations , January 1997 in “Gynecological Endocrinology”

The document concludes that treating androgen excess needs patience, managing expectations is important, and many drugs used are not officially approved, suggesting cosmetic options for mild cases.