The Effect of Spironolactone on Hirsutism and Female Androgen Metabolism

The study evaluated the anti-androgen effects of spironolactone in 12 hirsute patients, with nine completing the study. Over 12 months, three patients showed a significant decrease in hair diameter, although the overall group did not show changes in growth rate or mean diameter. Plasma testosterone levels fell to 53% of basal levels, and free testosterone levels dropped to 64% by the sixth month, remaining low for the rest of the study. Subjective improvements in hair growth and greasiness were noted, along with a significant reduction in the Ferriman-Gallwey index in nine out of 10 subjects assessed for at least nine months. The study concluded that spironolactone might be effective for a subset of patients with hirsutism, despite inconsistent results.