title: Progestogens with antiandrogenic properties.
abstract: Chlormadinone acetate, cyproterone acetate and dienogest are potent, orally active progestogens, which have antiandrogenic instead of partial androgenic activity. They act mainly by blocking androgen receptors in target organs, but also reduce the activity of skin 5alpha-reductase, the enzyme responsible for converting testosterone to the more potent androgen, 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone, in sebaceous glands and hair follicles. Chlormadinone acetate and cyproterone acetate also suppress gonadotropin secretion, thereby reducing ovarian and adrenal androgen production. Combined oral contraceptives (COCs) containing antiandrogenic progestogens provide highly effective contraception (gross and adjusted Pearl indices: 0-0.7 and 0-0.3, respectively) with excellent cycle control. Furthermore, COCs containing 2mg of chlormadinone acetate or cyproterone acetate plus 30 or 35 microg of ethinylestradiol produced improvement or resolution of seborrhoea in 80% of users, acne in 59-70%, hirsutism in 36% and androgen-related alopecia in up to 86%. These COCs are generally well tolerated, the main adverse effects being nonspecific or as expected for a COC (headache, breast tenderness and nausea). They have no clinically relevant effects on metabolic or liver functions or on bodyweight. Effects on mood and libido are uncommon (<3.5% and <6% of women, respectively). COCs containing antiandrogenic progestogens are likely to be particularly valuable in women with pre-existing androgen-related disorders who require contraception. They also increase the choice of products available for women with normal skin and hair who are concerned about the possibility of developing seborrhoea or acne with other COCs.
authors.affiliation: Hôtel Dieu, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raudrant
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rabe
mesh_terms: D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy; D000505:Alopecia / Q000188:drug therapy; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002715:Chlormadinone Acetate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D017373:Cyproterone Acetate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D012628:Dermatitis, Seborrheic / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D009277:Nandrolone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D045167:Progesterone Congeners / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011372:Progestins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic; D045167:Progesterone Congeners; D011372:Progestins; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D002715:Chlormadinone Acetate; C023635:dienogest; D017373:Cyproterone Acetate; D009277:Nandrolone