Anti-Androgens

Androgenisation in women

Although androgens such as testosterone are considered to be male hormones, women also produce some androgen but in much smaller amounts.  However, some women produce too much testosterone and this condition is known as androgenisation.  The symptoms of androgenisation include hirsutism, which is unwanted hair in the male pattern, and includes the face, chest and back and is usually thickened and pigmented.  This condition is also associated with acne and/or seborrhoea (greasy skin from too much sebum) and androgen-dependent alopecia (hair loss).  

Anti-Androgens

Treatment of overproduction of androgens is based on blocking the androgen receptor, which prevents testosterone binding to its receptor to reduce the effectiveness of the hormone.