The effect of an oral contraceptive containing ethinylestradiol and desogestrel on hair growth and hormonal parameters of hirsute women.
A group of 22 hirsute women was treated with a combination of 0.030 mg of ethinylestradiol and 0.150 mg of desogestrel (EE-DG) for 6 or 12 months. After 6 months the hair growth was decreased in 17 patients. There was a significant decrease in testosterone/sex hormone binding globulin (T/SHBG) ratio and serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) levels. The changes in the hirsutism and the T/SHBG ratio showed correlation (rho 0.36, P less than 0.05). The patient groups with the best and the poorest clinical response differed in terms of summed changes in the T/SHBG ratio and DHEAS. These findings suggest that the therapeutic effect of the EE-DG is based on combined changes in the related hormone levels.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood; D017135:Desogestrel; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009652:Norpregnenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009652:Norpregnenes; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D017135:Desogestrel