Effect of an oral contraceptive on adrenal and ovarian androgenic steroids.

7 women with hirsuitsm (5 with polycystic ovarian disease 2 with eumenorrheic hirsutism) were studied before and during the 4th and 6th cycles of oral contraceptive (OC) treatment (norethindrone/mestranol 1 mg/0.05 mg). Plasma testosterone androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate were measured before and during treatment. Testosterone was reduced 72% androstenedione was reduced 68.5% and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate was reduced 41.25% during therapy. Plasma dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate normalized in all patients with pretreatment elevation of this steroid. Norethindrone/mestranol 1 mg/0.05 mg is capable of suppressing both ovarian and adrenal androgens in hirsute women with modest elevation of these steroids. (authors)