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Clinical and endocrine effects of finasteride, a 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, in women with idiopathic hirsutism

Ciotta L et al., 1995

Fertility and sterility, 64(2), 299-306

DOI 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)57727-9 PMID 7615107 Source

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the effects of long-term administration of finasteride on hirsutism score, basal gonadotropin, and androgen secretion in women with idiopathic hirsutism.

Design

Randomized single-blinded study.

Patients

Eighteen patients with moderate-severe hirsutism were recruited for the study.

Interventions

Nine hirsute patients received 7.5 mg/d oral finasteride for a period of 9 months whereas the other nine were treated with placebo. Hirsutism score, serum basal gonadotropin, androgens, estrogen, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels were evaluated in all patients before treatment and every 3 months during treatment.

Results

After 6 and 9 months of treatment, the hirsutism score improved significantly in the patients receiving finasteride, whereas no significant modifications were observed in patients treated with placebo. The side effects observed were headache and depression of modest entity during the 1st month of treatments, whereas libido did not change. Serum levels of LH, FSH, androstenedione, unbound T, DHEAS, E2, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, and SHBG did not change during therapy. Hirsute patients treated with finasteride exhibited a marked decrease of dihydrotestosterone and a significant increase of T serum levels from the 3rd and 6th months of treatment, respectively.

Conclusion

Finasteride decreased the hirsutism score of patients affected by idiopathic hirsutism with few side effects during treatment. No modification of libido was observed.

Topics

Reproductive Endocrinology > Progesterone > Clinical EffectsPCOS > Pathophysiology > HyperandrogenismPCOS > Treatment > Pharmacological
finasteride for hirsutism treatment, idiopathic hirsutism therapy options, 5 alpha reductase inhibitor women, dihydrotestosterone reduction hirsutism, hyperandrogenism pharmacological treatment, hair growth excess androgen treatment, hirsutism score improvement finasteride, androgen metabolism in hirsutism, testosterone to dht conversion inhibition, unwanted hair growth hormone treatment

Cite this article

Ciotta, L., Cianci, A., Calogero, A. E., Palumbo, M. A., Marletta, E., Sciuto, A., & Palumbo, G. A. M. (1995). Clinical and endocrine effects of finasteride, a 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, in women with idiopathic hirsutism. *Fertility and sterility*, *64*(2), 299-306. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0015-0282(16)57727-9

Keywords

5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors, Adult, Analysis of Variance, Dihydrotestosterone, Female, Finasteride, Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Hirsutism, Humans, Luteinizing Hormone, Single-Blind Method, Testosterone

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