title: Hyperandrogenic women treated with a continuous-regimen oral contraceptive.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of a continuous-regimen combined oral contraceptive (COC) on hyperandrogenic women.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study enrolled 52 women with moderate to severe hirsutism, as well as acne and seborrhea. Women were placed on a 192-day continuous regimen. To assess hirsutism, the modified Ferriman-Gallwey (mF-G) scoring system was used. Acne and seborrhea were defined by the Cremoncini scale. Serum FSH, LH, estradiol, total testosterone, FAI, DHEAS, androstenedione, SHBG and fasting insulin were measured at baseline and at the endpoint. One-way ANOVA was used to compare serum hormone levels and hirsutism scores at baseline with those obtained at the endpoint.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A reduction of 78.5% in the mF-G scores was observed at the endpoint (p<0.001). Women underwent improvement of acne and seborrhea, -58.7% and -56%, respectively (p<0.001). An evident decrease in both total testosterone and FAI, and an increase in SHBG were shown (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A COC continuous-regimen improved the esthetic effect of hyperandrogenism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Surgical Specialties, Gynecological Clinic, Italy; Research Group for Sexology, Italy. Electronic address: scaruso@unict.it.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cianci
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Malandrino
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cicero
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lo Presti
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cianci
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy; D000293:Adolescent; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood; D000736:Androstenes / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012628:Dermatitis, Seborrheic / Q000188:drug therapy; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D000736:Androstenes; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; C035144:drospirenone
keywords: Acne; COC continuous regimen; Drospirenone; Hyperandrogenism; Seborrhea