Treatment of Hirsutism
Pharmacological treatment
Medication is used to treat hirsutism by different means:
- Suppression of androgen production
- Blocking of androgen receptors
Oral contraceptive pills
Luteinizing hormone (LH) which is produced by the pituitary, increases ovarian androgen production. The progestational component of oral contraceptives inhibits the secretion of LH herein decreasing ovarian androgen production. Oral contraceptives (the progestational component) also decrease adrenal DHEAS production through a negative feedback loop via the glucocorticoid receptor. There is also a positive effect of the estrogen component of oral contraceptives on the liver´s production of SHBG thus increasing the total capacity to bind androgens and diminishing the unbound and active fraction.
Other substances used to treat hirsutism
- Gonadotropin releasing hormone agonists
- Glucocorticoids
- Androgen receptor antagonists
- 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors
- Eflornithine HCL (difluormethylornithine)
Find more information about medical therapy of hirsutism here.
Nonmedical Therapy
Shaving
Epilation
Depilatories
Electrolysis
Laser Treatment
Find more information about hair removal methods here.