12947
document
Efficacy of second versus third generation oral contraceptives in the treatment of hirsutism . OBJECTIVE To compare second versus third generation combination oral contraceptives ( OCs ) in the treatment of hirsutism . METHODS Women with hirsutism , as defined by a minimum Ferriman-Gallwey score of 10 , were randomized in a double-blind fashion to receive an OC containing either ethinyl estradiol/desogestrel or ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel for 9 months of treatment . Ferriman-Gallwey scores , androgen levels and sex hormone-binding globulin were measured at baseline and every 3 months for the duration of the study . Hormones were measured in duplicate by radioimmunoassay . RESULTS Of the 47 women enrolled , 24 were randomized to ethinyl estradiol/desogestrel and 23 were randomized to ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel . Mean sex hormone-binding globulin increased significantly in subjects using the desogestrel-containing contraceptive compared with the levonorgestrel-containing contraceptive . Ten subjects completed the 9 months of treatment in the levonorgestrel group and 11 completed the study in the desogestrel group . Mean free testosterone and 3alpha-androstanediol glucuronide decreased significantly in the group receiving ethinyl estradiol/desogestrel but not in the ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel group . Mean Ferriman-Gallwey scores decreased significantly in both treatment groups . Improvement in mean Ferriman-Gallwey score was 35.7 +/- 38.1 % ( p < 0.001 ) for the ethinyl estradiol/desogestrel arm and 33.4 +/- 27.3 % ( p < 0.001 ) for the ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel arm . There were no statistically significant differences found in the improvement of Ferriman-Gallwey scores between the two treatment arms , although the power to detect a difference was limited by the small sample size . CONCLUSIONS Treatment of hirsute women with third generation OCs containing desogestrel results in a significant increase in sex hormone-binding globulin and decrease in free testosterone and 3alpha-androstanediol glucuronide . Both second and third generation OCs were clinically effective in treating hirsutism .
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Intervention_Pharmacological
oral contraceptives
12949
Intervention_Pharmacological
third generation combination oral contraceptives ( OCs )
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Intervention_Pharmacological
ethinyl estradiol/desogestrel
12951
Intervention_Pharmacological
ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel
12952
Intervention_Pharmacological
ethinyl estradiol/desogestrel
12953
Intervention_Pharmacological
ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel .
12954
Intervention_Pharmacological
desogestrel-containing contraceptive
12955
Intervention_Pharmacological
levonorgestrel-containing contraceptive .
12956
Intervention_Pharmacological
levonorgestrel
12957
Intervention_Pharmacological
desogestrel
12958
Intervention_Pharmacological
ethinyl estradiol/desogestrel
12959
Intervention_Pharmacological
ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel
12960
Intervention_Pharmacological
ethinyl estradiol/desogestrel
12961
Intervention_Pharmacological
ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel
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Intervention_Other
third generation
12963
Intervention_Physical
OCs
12964
Intervention_Pharmacological
desogestrel
12965
Intervention_Physical
OCs
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Outcome_Physical
Ferriman-Gallwey scores
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Outcome_Physical
androgen levels
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Outcome_Physical
sex hormone-binding globulin
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Outcome_Physical
Hormones
12970
Outcome_Physical
Mean sex hormone-binding globulin
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Outcome_Physical
Mean free testosterone
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Outcome_Physical
3alpha-androstanediol glucuronide
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Outcome_Physical
Mean Ferriman-Gallwey scores
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Outcome_Physical
Ferriman-Gallwey score
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Outcome_Physical
Ferriman-Gallwey scores
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Outcome_Physical
sex hormone-binding globulin
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Outcome_Physical
free testosterone
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Outcome_Physical
3alpha-androstanediol glucuronide