The effectiveness of two oral contraceptives in suppressing plasma androstenedione, testosterone, LH, and FSH, and in stimulating plasma testosterone-binding capacity in hirsute women.
The effectiveness of two oral contraceptives in suppressing plasma androstenedione (A), testosterone (T), LH, and FSH and in stimulating testosterone-estradiol-binding globulin (TeBG) was evaluated in 39 hirsute women. Twenty-seven hirsute women received norethindrone 2 mg.-mestranol 0.1 mg. (Group I) and 12 received norgestrel 0.5 mg.-ethinyl estradiol 0.05 mg. (Group II). Hormone assays were performed before treatment and at the end of 3 weeks of therapy. Ninety percent of the women in both groups had an elevated plasma A and/or T. During treatment, plasma A,T, LH, and FSH were significantly reduced in both groups (p less than 0.01). In Group I, 78% of the women had a normal plasma A and T during treatment. In Group II, 83% of the women had a normal A and T during treatment. There was a greater increase in TeBG in Group I (p less than 0.01). It is concluded that these two oral contraceptives effectively suppressed the hyperandrogenism of most of the hirsute women.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood*; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D008656:Mestranol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009640:Norethindrone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009644:Norgestrel / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011485:Protein Binding; D012712:Serum Globulins / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism
D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D012712:Serum Globulins; D009644:Norgestrel; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D008656:Mestranol; D009640:Norethindrone