What do systematic reviews say?

Finasteride vs placebo

Finasteride showed no clear difference in the proportion of participants with self‐rated clinically… compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Interventions for female pattern hair loss 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.95 [0.66, 1.37]
  1 study · 137 participants
  Low

Finasteride vs placebo

• Interventions for female pattern hair loss 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies · 0 participants
  GRADE not reported

Finasteride vs placebo

Finasteride showed no clear difference in adverse events compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Interventions for female pattern hair loss 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.03 [0.45, 2.34]
  1 study · 137 participants
  Low

Finasteride vs placebo

Finasteride showed no clear difference in proportion of participants with investigator‐rated clinically… compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Interventions for female pattern hair loss 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.77 [0.31, 1.9]
  1 study · 137 participants
  Low

Finasteride vs placebo

• Interventions for female pattern hair loss 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 231 participants
  Low

Finasteride vs placebo

• Interventions for female pattern hair loss 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 137 participants
  Low

Finasteride vs placebo

Finasteride showed no clear difference in cosmetic appearance of the hair or participant satisfaction compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Interventions for female pattern hair loss 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.78 [0.4, 1.53]
  1 study · 137 participants
  Low

Finasteride vs placebo

• Interventions for female pattern hair loss 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies · 0 participants
  GRADE not reported

Finasteride 5 mg vs spironolactone 100 mg

• Interventions for hirsutism (excluding laser and photoepilation therapy alone) 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 34 participants
  Low

Finasteride 5 mg vs spironolactone 100 mg

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for hirsutism (excluding laser and photoepilation therapy alone) 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Finasteride 5 mg vs spironolactone 100 mg

Finasteride 5 mg showed no clear difference in proportion of participants who reported an adverse event compared with spironolactone 100 mg (moderate certainty).

• Interventions for hirsutism (excluding laser and photoepilation therapy alone) 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.2 [0.03, 1.41]
  1 study · 20 participants
  Moderate

Finasteride 5 mg vs spironolactone 100 mg

• Interventions for hirsutism (excluding laser and photoepilation therapy alone) 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 34 participants
  Low

Finasteride 5 mg vs spironolactone 100 mg

• Interventions for hirsutism (excluding laser and photoepilation therapy alone) 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 34 participants
  Low

Finasteride 5 mg vs spironolactone 100 mg

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for hirsutism (excluding laser and photoepilation therapy alone) 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Finasteride 5 mg vs spironolactone 100 mg

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for hirsutism (excluding laser and photoepilation therapy alone) 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Finasteride 5 mg vs flutamide 250 mg once to b.i.d.

Finasteride 5 mg showed no clear difference in participant‐reported improvement of hirsutism 4‐point Likert scale compared with flutamide 250 mg once to b.i.d. (low certainty).

• Interventions for hirsutism (excluding laser and photoepilation therapy alone) 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.63 [0.31, 1.25]
  1 study · 20 participants
  Low

Finasteride 5 mg vs flutamide 250 mg once to b.i.d.

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for hirsutism (excluding laser and photoepilation therapy alone) 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Finasteride 5 mg vs flutamide 250 mg once to b.i.d.

It is very uncertain whether finasteride 5 mg changes proportion of participants who reported an adverse event compared with flutamide 250 mg once to b.i.d. (very low certainty).

• Interventions for hirsutism (excluding laser and photoepilation therapy alone) 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 3.87 [0.57, 26.24]
  3 studies · 115 participants
  Very low

Finasteride 5 mg vs flutamide 250 mg once to b.i.d.

• Interventions for hirsutism (excluding laser and photoepilation therapy alone) 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  4 studies · 226 participants
  Very low

Finasteride 5 mg vs flutamide 250 mg once to b.i.d.

• Interventions for hirsutism (excluding laser and photoepilation therapy alone) 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  4 studies · 226 participants
  Moderate