Clinical usefulness of low-dose oral contraceptives for the treatment of adolescent hyperandrogenemia.

In the early stage of adolescence, irregular menstruation and an anovulation often occurs. During this period, some adolescent women suffer from hyperandrogenemia, which results in acne, adiposity, and hirsutism. If adequate treatment is not given to these hyperandrogenic young women, severe hirsutism and polycystic ovary (PCO), which could be a proximate cause of juvenile endometrial carcinoma, might occur. Young women with hyperandrogenemia show increased levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) levels and free testosterone (T)/total T ratio, and a decreased level of steroid hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in serum. Low-dose oral contraceptives might reduce the hormone unbalance and hyperandrogenemia without leading to negative effects in the ovarian function of adolescent women.