Combination gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist and oral contraceptive therapy improves treatment of hirsute women with ovarian hyperandrogenism.

3 Small study in people

What this means for you: first signals, nothing more.

Type of study: controlled trial
Studied in: people
Participants: not stated in the abstract
Published: 1995 in Fertility and sterility
Cited: 3 times by other research
Who paid: Publicly funded, as far as was declared.
Source: PubMed 7720941

The plain-language write-up of this study is still being written. Below is the abstract exactly as the researchers published it.

Abstract by the researchers — original text

OBJECTIVE: To determine if combination GnRH agonist (GnRH-a) and oral contraceptive (OC) therapy was more effective than GnRH-a or OC alone in the treatment of hirsute women with ovarian hyperandrogenism. DESIGN: Thirty-three hirsute women (ages 15 to 39 years) were randomized into three groups: 3.75 mg IM leuprolide acetate (LA) depot every 28 days for 6 months, combination monophasic oral contraceptive for 6 months (OC), or GnRH-a plus OC for 6 months (LA + OC). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Comparative studies of changes in hormonal and hair parameters were performed at baseline, 3, and 6 months after starting therapy. RESULTS: After 6 months, serum T and LH levels were decreased significantly in all groups although reduction was greater in GnRH-a groups than OC alone. The reduction of free T was significantly greater with LA + OC compared with LA or OC alone. This could be a consequence of the significant rise in sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in LA + OC and OC groups compared with LA in which there was no change in SHBG. Reduced facila hair density and decrease in hirsutism score was observed in both GnRH-a groups after 6 months. CONCLUSION: "Add-back" OC therapy used in combination with a GnRH-a increases SHBG and more effectively lowers free T levels in women with ovarian hyperandrogenism. Enhanced suppression of "bioavailable" androgens with combined GnRH-a and OC therapy failed to improve significantly the therapeutic effect of GnRH-a treatment alone on hirsutism.