Hormonal therapy will stop new hair from developing. Terminal hairs that are already present do not fall out or disappear with hormonal therapy and must be removed by electrolyisis. It is also very important to remember that excessive hair growth took, in most cases, many years to develop. Likewise one should not expect to see a significant difference in the hair growth rate before six months of hormonal treatment. Patience is of utmost importance in the treatment of hirsutism.
Birth control pills Birth control pills are the most commonly utilized hormonal treatment.
Birth control pills stop the excessive hair growth by decreasing the pituitary hormones LH and FSH and therefore withdrawing the stimulus for the ovarian production of androgens. In addition, they increase in the liver the production of Sex Hormone Binding Globulin, the protein that by trapping androgens makes them less effective. Pills also regulate the menstrual cycles and provide protection against unwanted pregnancies. This medication directly fights the affects of androgens in the skin. It antagonizes the male hormone by competing with androgens for the androgen receptors.