The effect of an oral contraceptive containing ethinylestradiol and desogestrel on hair growth and hormonal parameters of hirsute women.

A group of 22 hirsute women was treated with a combination of 0.030 mg of ethinylestradiol and 0.150 mg of desogestrel (EE-DG) for 6 or 12 months. After 6 months the hair growth was decreased in 17 patients. There was a significant decrease in testosterone/sex hormone binding globulin (T/SHBG) ratio and serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) levels. The changes in the hirsutism and the T/SHBG ratio showed correlation (rho 0.36, P less than 0.05). The patient groups with the best and the poorest clinical response differed in terms of summed changes in the T/SHBG ratio and DHEAS. These findings suggest that the therapeutic effect of the EE-DG is based on combined changes in the related hormone levels.