Antiandrogen

Antiandrogens, also known as androgen antagonists or testosterone blockers, are a class of <a href="/facts/Drug/FFFUI9n4">drugs</a> that prevent <a href="/facts/Androgen/Rxey0HxX">androgens</a> like <a href="/facts/Testosterone/uUumdhAz">testosterone</a> and <a href="/facts/Dihydrotestosterone/fQpDuzcL">dihydrotestosterone</a> (DHT) from mediating their <a href="/facts/Biological_effect/a5hLtnS7">biological effects</a> in the body. They act by <a href="/facts/Receptor_antagonist/PuXHVNdV">blocking</a> the <a href="/facts/Androgen_receptor/NBPRszqm">androgen receptor</a> (AR) and/or <a href="/facts/Steroidogenesis_inhibitor/WsL0ypH2">inhibiting</a> or <a href="/facts/Antigonadotropin/9FC1hu51">suppressing</a> androgen <a href="/facts/Biosynthesis/aFk7Tk7f">production</a>. They can be thought of as the functional opposites of AR <a href="/facts/Agonist/nz8U5NNp">agonists</a>, for instance androgens and <a href="/facts/Anabolic_steroid/f9KAXfTF">anabolic steroids</a> (AAS) like testosterone, DHT, and <a href="/facts/Nandrolone/ezrNGa2U">nandrolone</a> and <a href="/facts/Selective_androgen_receptor_modulator/7xTgYFU8">selective androgen receptor modulators</a> (SARMs) like <a href="/facts/Enobosarm/atgrzGgl">enobosarm</a>. Antiandrogens are one of three types of <a href="/facts/Sex-hormonal_agent/dxCBrs6R">sex hormone antagonists</a>, the others being <a href="/facts/Antiestrogen/VxQlPfYR">antiestrogens</a> and <a href="/facts/Antiprogestogen/W4dl9HJf">antiprogestogens</a>.
Antiandrogens are used to treat an assortment of <a href="/facts/Androgen-dependent_condition/SXYY0pIs">androgen-dependent conditions</a>. In men, antiandrogens are used in the treatment of <a href="/facts/Prostate_cancer/Mx7XuDhm">prostate cancer</a>, <a href="/facts/Benign_prostatic_hyperplasia/ocGSCVK9">enlarged prostate</a>, <a href="/facts/Pattern_hair_loss/VzqlyjF9">scalp hair loss</a>, <a href="/facts/Hypersexuality/xYcTCLUl">overly high sex drive</a>, <a href="/facts/Paraphilia/MWfMWXmT">unusual and problematic sexual urges</a>, and <a href="/facts/Precocious_puberty/qUBb5nsD">early puberty</a>. In women, antiandrogens are used to treat <a href="/facts/Acne/TKJxhHSd">acne</a>, <a href="/facts/Seborrhea/d1CfhTDG">seborrhea</a>, <a href="/facts/Hirsutism/k8o1X8xP">excessive hair growth</a>, scalp hair loss, and <a href="/facts/Hyperandrogenism/ATvFXbXX">high androgen levels</a>, such as those that occur in <a href="/facts/Polycystic_ovary_syndrome/lfCSRdGe">polycystic ovary syndrome</a> (PCOS). Antiandrogens are also used as a component of <a href="/facts/Feminizing_hormone_therapy/casqjU0p">feminizing hormone therapy</a> for <a href="/facts/Transgender_women/3g9BWBmA">transgender women</a> and as <a href="/facts/Puberty_blocker/Gcz8PW1g">puberty blockers</a> in <a href="/facts/Transgender_youth/dJelnrr9">transgender girls</a>.
<a href="/facts/Side_effect/PhuX2haY">Side effects</a> of antiandrogens depend on the type of antiandrogen and the specific antiandrogen in question. In any case, common side effects of antiandrogens in men include <a href="/facts/Breast_tenderness/lgVfXrUy">breast tenderness</a>, <a href="/facts/Gynecomastia/8VkLDnGD">breast enlargement</a>, <a href="/facts/Feminization_(biology)/MqgeWU4b">feminization</a>, <a href="/facts/Hot_flash/4XyMNyFH">hot flashes</a>, <a href="/facts/Sexual_dysfunction/cnrj9YDF">sexual dysfunction</a>, <a href="/facts/Infertility/emky9q8L">infertility</a>, and <a href="/facts/Osteoporosis/xa1W00Tj">osteoporosis</a>. In women, antiandrogens are much better <a href="/facts/Tolerability/bIv7laJh">tolerated</a>, and antiandrogens that work only by directly blocking androgens are associated with minimal side effects. However, because <a href="/facts/Estrogen/dPEewnDV">estrogens</a> are made from androgens in the body, antiandrogens that suppress androgen production can cause <a href="/facts/Hypoestrogenism/mz2k8Hnl">low estrogen levels</a> and associated symptoms like hot flashes, <a href="/facts/Menstrual_irregularities/U1Ax6t6F">menstrual irregularities</a>, and osteoporosis in <a href="/facts/Premenopause/b3Fz6NHb">premenopausal</a> women.
There are a few different major types of antiandrogens. These include AR <a href="/facts/Receptor_antagonist/PuXHVNdV">antagonists</a>, <a href="/facts/Androgen_synthesis_inhibitor/AfyGmnAs">androgen synthesis inhibitors</a>, and <a href="/facts/Antigonadotropin/9FC1hu51">antigonadotropins</a>. AR antagonists work by directly blocking the effects of androgens, while androgen synthesis inhibitors and antigonadotropins work by lowering androgen levels. AR antagonists can be further divided into <a href="/facts/Steroidal_antiandrogen/nMm92kvx">steroidal antiandrogens</a> and <a href="/facts/Nonsteroidal_antiandrogen/AP84Tuxd">nonsteroidal antiandrogens</a>; androgen synthesis inhibitors can be further divided mostly into <a href="/facts/CYP17A1_inhibitor/WsFbbhIz">CYP17A1 inhibitors</a> and <a href="/facts/5%25CE%25B1-reductase_inhibitor/kKSEtb4w">5α-reductase inhibitors</a>; and antigonadotropins can be further divided into <a href="/facts/Gonadotropin-releasing_hormone_modulator/nurNownG">gonadotropin-releasing hormone modulators</a> (GnRH modulators), <a href="/facts/Progestogen/kodep35t">progestogens</a>, and <a href="/facts/Estrogen_(medication)/mSKFraNu">estrogens</a>.

Antiandrogen open-in-new

Antiandrogen