Anti-androgenic therapy in young patients and its impact on intensity of hirsutism, acne, menstrual pain intensity and sexuality — a preliminary study
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Abstract
Objectives: Using anti-androgenic contraception is one of the methods of birth control. It also has a significant, non-contraceptive impact on women’s body. These drugs can be used in various endocrinological disorders, because of their ability to reduce the level of male hormones. The aim of our study is to establish a correlation between taking different types of anti-androgenic drugs and intensity of hirsutism, acne, menstrual pain intensity and sexuality.
Material and methods: 570 women in childbearing age that had been using oral contraception for at least three months took part in our research. We examined women and asked them about quality of life, health, direct causes and effects of that treatment, intensity of acne and menstrual pain before and after. Our research group has been divided according to the type of gestagen contained in the contraceptive pill: dienogest, cyproterone, chlormadynone and drospirenone. Additionally, the control group consisted of women taking oral contraceptives without antiandrogenic component.
Results: The mean age of the studied group was 23 years ± 3.23. 225 of 570 women complained of hirsutism. The mean score for acne intensity before the use of contraception was 2.7 ± 1.34. The mean score for acne intensity after 3 months of using contraception was 1.85 ± 1.02 (p < 0.001). 192 women reported excess hairiness in one or more area before treatment. Mean value based on Ferriman-Gallway scale before the treatment was 6.23 ± 6.21 and 5.39 ± 5.6 after the treatment (p < 0.001).
Conclusions: All groups of drugs effectively reduced pain and acne severity. Cyproterone and drospirenone turned out as the most effective drugs in treating hirsutism. Surprisingly, according to our research, dienogest does not have any impact on body hairiness.
Keywords: anti-androgenic therapyoral contraceptivesacnehirsutismmenstrual painyoung patients
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