Treatment of female hyperandrogenism: estroprogestinic therapy at low dose in an inversal sequential scheme.

Objective: to investigate the effects of treatment with low dose of cyproterone acetate and ethynyl-estradiol on chemical and hormonal parameters in female hyperandrogenism.

Design: twenty patients, affected by clinical manifestations of hyperandrogenism, were studied basally and during treatment with 10 mg of cyproterone acetate associated with ethynyl-estradiol (20 m g) in an inversal sequential scheme for six months. Safety parameters were assessed throughout the study. Hirsutism was graded by Ferriman and Gallway score, and hormonal parameters were evaluated basally and after six months of therapy.

Results: after six months of therapy all patients showed a significant decrease of clinical and biochemical signs of hyperandrogenism, and normalization of ovarian parameters in seventeen women affected by PCOS.

Conclusions: this treatment is an effective and well tolerated therapy. It is reasonable to consider this treatment as a safe procedure especially in view of a long-term administration.