135 citations,
August 1994 in “Clinical Endocrinology” Most women with hirsutism or androgenic alopecia had polycystic ovaries, especially if they had irregular periods.
111 citations,
November 2010 in “Human Reproduction” South Asian women with PCOS are more likely to have metabolic issues and central obesity, and simple measures like waist size and blood pressure can help identify these risks early.
99 citations,
June 1999 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Testosterone replacement may help some postmenopausal women with symptoms like fatigue and low libido, but more research is needed to fully understand its effects.
90 citations,
August 2002 in “European journal of endocrinology” Metformin improves hair growth and menstrual frequency in women with PCOS and hirsutism.
84 citations,
November 2003 in “European journal of endocrinology” Women with androgenic alopecia are more likely to have polycystic ovaries and higher androgen levels, which may indicate PCOS.
75 citations,
June 1999 in “Pediatric Clinics of North America” The document concludes that early recognition and treatment of PCOS in adolescents is crucial for managing symptoms and long-term health risks.
75 citations,
March 1999 in “Fertility and sterility” Finasteride, CPA, and flutamide are all equally effective in reducing excessive hair growth in women.
71 citations,
August 2019 in “The journal of sexual medicine” Testosterone treatment effectively causes male physical development in transgender male adolescents but may lead to side effects like acne, higher BMI and blood pressure, lower good cholesterol, and decreased bone density.
71 citations,
July 2015 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Women with PCOS have higher androgen levels that decrease with age but are still higher than in women without PCOS.
70 citations,
August 1995 in “Fertility and Sterility” Finasteride reduces hairiness and androgen levels in women with unexplained excessive hair growth.
67 citations,
February 2010 in “Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica” Hirsutism is a strong sign of high male hormones and metabolic problems in women with PCOS, but acne and hair loss are not.
63 citations,
March 2001 in “Fertility and Sterility” Diane 35 plus finasteride is more effective for treating hirsutism.
62 citations,
April 2013 in “Steroids” PCOS symptoms change with age; younger women have higher androgen levels and less metabolic issues, while older women face more metabolic challenges despite milder PCOS symptoms.
57 citations,
February 2007 in “International Journal of Cancer” A49T gene variant linked to higher prostate cancer risk, lower hormone levels, and slightly reduced balding risk.
56 citations,
October 1983 in “Archives of Dermatology” Some women with acne have higher levels of free testosterone, which might suggest using hormonal treatments for acne.
51 citations,
October 2002 in “European journal of endocrinology” Low-dose finasteride effectively treats hirsutism, is safe, and cost-effective.
50 citations,
August 2017 in “Diabetologia” Metformin has limited effectiveness for improving PCOS symptoms and lacks clear benefits, needing more research to confirm its efficacy.
50 citations,
May 2000 in “Fertility and Sterility” Flutamide reduces hair growth better but has more side effects.
50 citations,
April 2000 in “Fertility and Sterility” Diane 35 plus finasteride is more effective in reducing hair growth and androgen levels, but may decrease libido.
49 citations,
September 1986 in “British Journal of Dermatology” Hidradenitis suppurativa improves with antiandrogen therapy.
49 citations,
June 1998 in “Journal of Endocrinological Investigation” Cyproterone acetate plus ethinyl estradiol is generally more effective in treating hirsutism, but consider side effects and patient characteristics.
47 citations,
June 2016 in “JAMA Dermatology” Men with early hair loss have similar hormone levels to women with PCOS, possibly increasing risk of obesity and heart issues.
47 citations,
January 2001 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” High testosterone to epitestosterone ratio in hair could predict male-pattern baldness.
47 citations,
December 2000 in “Archives of Dermatological Research” Androgens significantly affect female hair loss, and hormonal treatments may help.
46 citations,
August 1990 in “The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism/Journal of clinical endocrinology & metabolism” Ketoconazole reduced hair growth and improved acne in women, but caused side effects needing careful monitoring.
45 citations,
February 2012 Obese women with PCOS are more likely to have fatty liver disease.
44 citations,
June 1985 in “Fertility and sterility” Combination drug therapy is effective for hirsutism that doesn't improve with just one medication.
43 citations,
May 1988 in “British Journal of Dermatology” Patients with acanthosis nigricans often have insulin resistance and signs of increased male hormones, but treatment targeting these male hormones is generally ineffective.
38 citations,
May 2006 in “Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics” Women with only irregular periods or excess hair have a better hormone profile than those with full PCOS, but both groups are similar, indicating a need for better PCOS diagnosis methods.
38 citations,
January 1997 in “Gynecological Endocrinology” Finasteride and flutamide effectively reduce hirsutism in PCOS women, with flutamide also lowering hormone levels.