Androgen Therapy for Women

The male hormones androgens play a key role in the female pattern baldness. Therefore, androgen therapy for women is the usual prescription for female pattern baldness. The therapy with Systemic Androgen Receptor Protein (ARP) inhibitors is useful in this case.

 

The main sources of androgens in women

 

Adrenal glands and ovaries are the main sources of androgens in women. Androgens like dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) produced by the adrenal glands can be converted to testosterone by enzymes.

 

In females dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) coming from the adrenal glands is the key precursor of DHT. It needs conversion by both alpha 5 reductase enzymes and hydroxysteroid hydrogenase isomerase enzyme.

 

Androgens interact with androgen receptors as testosterone and DHT. Androgen receptors can have direct interaction with the testosterone, or when testosterone is converted into DHT by the enzyme named 5-alpha-reductase.

 

 

Reasons for success of androgen therapy for women

 

Why are anti-androgens so useful in female pattern baldness? It is because they tend to decrease both testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. They counter female hair loss by stimulating hair re-growth.

 

Various uses of anti-androgens

 

The various uses of anti-androgens are as follows –

 

• Curing hair loss resulting after menstrual cycle
• Curing hirsutism
• Stopping and stabilizing hair fall
• Stimulating suboptimal hair growth
• Helping to produce more dense hair regrowth in women

 

 

Some side effects of androgen therapy for women

 

Some side effects of androgen therapy include depression, nausea, bodyweight gain and loss of libido, etc.