{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,9]],"date-time":"2026-07-09T20:05:35Z","timestamp":1783627535999,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":44,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,7,15]],"date-time":"2021-07-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1626307200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Life"],"abstract":"<jats:p>There is a need to establish the role of antiandrogens as an alternative or concomitant therapy for hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). Thus, the objectives of this study are (1) to assess the effectiveness of oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) at week 12 in HS women, and (2) to describe the clinical profile of patients receiving oral contraceptive pills (OCPs). A prospective observational study was designed. This study included 100 participants, 50 women with HS who started OCPs for the first time at our HS Clinic and 50 participants without OCP treatment. The main outcome of interest was the percentage of reduction in total abscess and inflammatory nodule (AN) count at week 12. Thirty-three women received combined OCPs and 17 non-combined OCP. HS patients with OCPs treatment were younger (31.7 vs. 40.9 years, p &lt; 0.001), thinner (28.62 vs. 33.35 kg\/m2), and have a higher number of areas affected (2.32 vs. 1.38, p = 0.02) than those without OCPs. After 12-weeks of treatment, it was observed that the percentage of AN reduction was higher in HS women receiving OCP than in patients without OCP (53.9% vs. 38.42%, p = 0.049). It was observed that OCP prescription (\u03b2 = 3.79, p = 0.034) and concomitant therapy (\u03b2 = 3.91, p = 0.037) were independently associated with a higher % AN when controlling for disease duration, concomitant therapy, and treatment with\/without OCP (R2 = 0.67). The factors potentially associated with the percentage AN reduction at week 12 in HS women treated with OCPs were disease duration (\u03b2 = \u22121.327, p = 0.052), concomitant therapy (\u03b2 = 11.04, p = 0.079), and HS worsening with the menstrual cycle (\u03b2 = 10.55, p = 0.087). In conclusion, OCPs might be effective for improving AN count in women with HS. Women whose HS worsens in relation to the menstrual cycle and have a shorter disease may benefit more from the therapeutic effect of OCPs.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/life11070697","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,7,15]],"date-time":"2021-07-15T09:32:07Z","timestamp":1626341527000},"page":"697","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":15,"title":["The Role of Oral Contraceptive Pills in Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Cohort Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4035-7955","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Trinidad","family":"Montero-Vilchez","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Dermatology, Hidradenitis Suppurativa Clinic, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, 18012 Granada, Spain"},{"name":"Instituto de Investigaci\u00f3n Biosanitaria Granada, 18012 Granada, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Andrea","family":"Valenzuela-Amigo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, University of Granada, 18012 Granada, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7579-4931","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Carlos","family":"Cuenca-Barrales","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dermatology, Hidradenitis Suppurativa Clinic, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, 18012 Granada, Spain"},{"name":"Instituto de Investigaci\u00f3n Biosanitaria Granada, 18012 Granada, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Salvador","family":"Arias-Santiago","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dermatology, Hidradenitis Suppurativa Clinic, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, 18012 Granada, Spain"},{"name":"Instituto de Investigaci\u00f3n Biosanitaria Granada, 18012 Granada, Spain"},{"name":"Dermatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ana","family":"Leyva-Garc\u00eda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, University of Granada, 18012 Granada, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6882-2113","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alejandro","family":"Molina-Leyva","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dermatology, Hidradenitis Suppurativa Clinic, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, 18012 Granada, Spain"},{"name":"Instituto de Investigaci\u00f3n Biosanitaria Granada, 18012 Granada, Spain"},{"name":"Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, University of Granada, 18012 Granada, Spain"},{"name":"European Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation (EHSF), 06847 Dessau-Ro\u00dflau, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,7,15]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"50","DOI":"10.1111\/jdv.16677","article-title":"Hidradenitis suppurativa: An update on epidemiology, phenotypes, diagnosis, pathogenesis, comorbidities and quality of life","volume":"35","author":"Nguyen","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Eur. Acad. Dermatol. Venereol."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"393","DOI":"10.1159\/000507323","article-title":"Medical and Surgical Management of Hidradeni-tis Suppurativa: A Review of International Treatment Guidelines and Implementation in General Dermatology Practice","volume":"236","author":"Orenstein","year":"2020","journal-title":"Dermatology"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"539","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaad.2008.11.911","article-title":"Hidradenitis suppurativa: A comprehensive review","volume":"60","author":"Alikhan","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Am. Acad. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"596","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaad.2008.06.020","article-title":"Prevalence and factors associated with hidradenitis suppurativa: Results from two case-control studies","volume":"59","author":"Revuz","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Am. Acad. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"335","DOI":"10.1007\/s11154-016-9366-z","article-title":"Hidradenitis suppurativa\/Acne inversa: An endocrine skin disorder?","volume":"17","author":"Karagiannidis","year":"2016","journal-title":"Rev. Endocr. Metab. Disord."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"333","DOI":"10.1007\/s00403-020-02105-x","article-title":"Hidradenitis suppurativa is associated with acne keloi-dalis nuchae: A population-based study","volume":"313","author":"Kridin","year":"2021","journal-title":"Arch. Dermatol. Res."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"226","DOI":"10.1001\/jamadermatol.2020.5087","article-title":"Burden of Ocular Comorbidities in Patients With Hidradenitis Suppurativa","volume":"157","author":"Conic","year":"2021","journal-title":"JAMA Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"637","DOI":"10.1007\/s11739-017-1658-0","article-title":"A unique pneumopathy in a patient with skin nodules and abscesses","volume":"12","author":"Damiani","year":"2017","journal-title":"Intern. Emerg. Med."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"391","DOI":"10.4254\/wjh.v11.i4.391","article-title":"Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease prevalence in an Italian cohort of patients with hidradenitis suppurativa: A multi-center retrospective analysis","volume":"11","author":"Damiani","year":"2019","journal-title":"World J. Hepatol."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e25","DOI":"10.1136\/annrheumdis-2016-210901","article-title":"Autoinflammatory Disease Damage Index (ADDI): A possible newborn also in hidradenitis suppurativa daily practice","volume":"76","author":"Damiani","year":"2016","journal-title":"Ann. Rheum. Dis."},{"key":"ref_11","first-page":"32","article-title":"A dermatologic perspective on autoinflammatory diseases","volume":"36","author":"Marzano","year":"2018","journal-title":"Clin. Exp. Rheumatol."},{"key":"ref_12","first-page":"239","article-title":"The Role of Androgens and Estrogens in Hidradenitis Suppurativa-A Systemat-ic Review","volume":"24","author":"Riis","year":"2016","journal-title":"Acta Dermatovenerol. Croat."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"155","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaad.2016.07.024","article-title":"Menses and pregnancy affect symptoms in hidradenitis suppurativa: A cross-sectional study","volume":"76","author":"Vossen","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Am. Acad. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"389","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1468-3083.2000.00087.x","article-title":"The natural history of hidradenitis suppurativa","volume":"14","author":"Williams","year":"2000","journal-title":"J. Eur. Acad. Dermatol. Venereol."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"23","DOI":"10.5070\/D32310036990","article-title":"Hormonal therapies for hidradenitis suppurativa: Review","volume":"23","author":"Clark","year":"2017","journal-title":"Dermatol. Online J."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"619","DOI":"10.1111\/bjd.16231","article-title":"Acne and hidradenitis suppurativa","volume":"178","author":"Pink","year":"2018","journal-title":"Br. J. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_17","first-page":"44","article-title":"Finasteride in Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A \u201cMale\u201d Therapy for a Predominantly \u201cFemale\u201d Disease","volume":"9","author":"Khandalavala","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Clin. Aesthet. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"85","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijwd.2020.02.005","article-title":"Special considerations for women with hidradenitis suppurativa","volume":"6","author":"Collier","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int. J. Women\u2019s Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2101","DOI":"10.1002\/ijc.33010","article-title":"Body size and composition, physical activity and sedentary time in relation to endogenous hormones in premenopausal and postmenopausal women: Findings from the UK Biobank","volume":"147","author":"Tin","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int. J. Cancer"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"76","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaad.2019.02.067","article-title":"North American clinical management guidelines for hidradenitis suppurativa: A publication from the United States and Canadian Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundations: Part I: Diagnosis, evaluation, and the use of complementary and procedural management","volume":"81","author":"Alikhan","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Am. Acad. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"503","DOI":"10.1007\/s40257-019-00442-w","article-title":"Is There a Role for Antiandrogen Therapy for Hidradenitis Suppurativa? A System-atic Review of Published Data","volume":"20","author":"Nikolakis","year":"2019","journal-title":"Am. J. Clin. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"263","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2133.1986.tb05740.x","article-title":"A double-blind controlled cross-over trial of cyproterone acetate in females with hidradenitis suppurativa","volume":"115","author":"Mortimer","year":"1986","journal-title":"Br. J. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"125","DOI":"10.2310\/7750.2007.00019","article-title":"Hidradenitis Suppurativa in 64 Female Patients: Retrospective Study Comparing Oral Antibiotics and Antiandrogen Therapy","volume":"11","author":"Kraft","year":"2007","journal-title":"J. Cutan. Med. Surg."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"343","DOI":"10.1007\/s11154-016-9328-5","article-title":"Evidence-based approach to the treatment of hidradenitis suppura-tiva\/acne inversa, based on the European guidelines for hidradenitis suppurativa","volume":"17","author":"Gulliver","year":"2016","journal-title":"Rev. Endocr. Metab. Disord."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"297","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jogoh.2019.02.006","article-title":"Update on the contraceptive contraindications","volume":"48","author":"Serfaty","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Gynecol. Obstet. Hum. Reprod."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"27","DOI":"10.1097\/GRF.0000000000000337","article-title":"Patient-centered Contraceptive Counseling and Prescribing","volume":"61","author":"Rivlin","year":"2018","journal-title":"Clin. Obstet. Gynecol."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"989","DOI":"10.1111\/jdv.13216","article-title":"HiSCR (Hidradenitis Suppurativa Clinical Response): A novel clinical endpoint to evaluate therapeutic outcomes in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa from the placebo-controlled portion of a phase 2 adalimumab study","volume":"30","author":"Kimball","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Eur. Acad. Dermatol. Venereol."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1401","DOI":"10.1111\/bjd.15748","article-title":"Development and validation of the International Hidradenitis Suppurativa Severity Score System (IHS 4), a novel dynamic scoring system to assess HS severity","volume":"177","author":"Zouboulis","year":"2017","journal-title":"Br. J. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"191","DOI":"10.2340\/00015555-2967","article-title":"Clinical Characteristics of Pruritus and Pain in Patients with Hidradenitis Suppurativa","volume":"98","author":"Kaaz","year":"2018","journal-title":"Acta Derm. Venereol."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"298","DOI":"10.1590\/abd1806-4841.20197687","article-title":"Clinical manifestations and quality of life in hidradenitis suppurativa patients: Survey of participants from an internet support group","volume":"94","author":"Tavora","year":"2019","journal-title":"An. Bras. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_31","unstructured":"(2020, August 28). US Food and Drug Administration.ALESSE\u00ae 28 Tablets (Levonorgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets), Available online: https:\/\/www.accessdata.fda.gov\/drugsatfda_docs\/label\/2018\/020683s012lbl.pdf."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"579","DOI":"10.1007\/s40257-020-00504-4","article-title":"Baseline Characteristics from UNITE: An Observational, International, Multicentre Registry to Evaluate Hidradenitis Suppurativa (Acne Inversa) in Clinical Practice","volume":"21","author":"Prens","year":"2020","journal-title":"Am. J. Clin. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105","DOI":"10.2147\/CCID.S111019","article-title":"Hidradenitis suppurativa: From patho-genesis to diagnosis and treatment","volume":"10","author":"Napolitano","year":"2017","journal-title":"Clin. Cosmet. Investig. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_34","first-page":"34","article-title":"Martorell Calatayud, A.; Salgado-Boquete; Labandeira-Garc\u00eda, J. [Update of hidradenitis suppurativa in Primary Care]","volume":"43","author":"Pascual","year":"2017","journal-title":"Semergen"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"83334","DOI":"10.18632\/oncotarget.19833","article-title":"Antiandrogenic and antimineralocorticoid health benefits of COC containing newer progestogens: Dienogest and drospirenone","volume":"8","author":"Regidor","year":"2017","journal-title":"Oncotarget"},{"key":"ref_36","first-page":"e14254","article-title":"Clinical selection criteria in new clinical trials of hidradenitis suppurativa: External validity and implications on the daily clinical practice","volume":"33","year":"2020","journal-title":"Dermatol. Ther."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"99","DOI":"10.2307\/1966055","article-title":"Why do inadvertent pregnancies occur in oral contraceptive users?--Effectiveness of oral contraceptive regimens and interfering factors","volume":"15","author":"Fraser","year":"1984","journal-title":"Stud. Fam. Plan."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"139","DOI":"10.1265\/jjh.70.139","article-title":"Menstrual Cycle Length and Source of Its Variation in Female University Students Majoring in Nursing Sciences","volume":"70","author":"Nishihama","year":"2015","journal-title":"Nippon. Eiseigaku Zasshi Jpn. J. Hyg."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2085","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jid.2019.10.025","article-title":"Low Prevalence of GSC Gene Mutations in a Large Cohort of Predominantly Caucasian Patients with Hidradenitis Suppurativa","volume":"140","author":"Duchatelet","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Investig. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"25","DOI":"10.1159\/000503606","article-title":"Adalimumab Dose Intensification in Recalcitrant Hidradenitis Suppurativa\/Acne Inversa","volume":"236","author":"Zouboulis","year":"2020","journal-title":"Dermatology"},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"372","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijwd.2020.09.002","article-title":"Characterizing perimenstrual flares of hidradenitis suppurativa","volume":"6","author":"Collier","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int. J. Women\u2019s Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"368","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijwd.2020.07.002","article-title":"Menses, pregnancy, delivery, and menopause in hidradenitis suppurativa: A patient survey","volume":"6","author":"Fernandez","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int. J. Women\u2019s Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"111061","DOI":"10.1016\/j.exger.2020.111061","article-title":"Frailty status and cardiovascular disease risk profile in middle-aged and older females","volume":"140","author":"Boreskie","year":"2020","journal-title":"Exp. Gerontol."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1321782","DOI":"10.1155\/2020\/1321782","article-title":"Evaluation of Cardiovascular Risk in Hid-radenitis Suppurativa Patients Using Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Analysis","volume":"2020","author":"Skroza","year":"2020","journal-title":"Cardiovasc. Ther."}],"container-title":["Life"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2075-1729\/11\/7\/697\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T06:31:05Z","timestamp":1760164265000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2075-1729\/11\/7\/697"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2021,7,15]]},"references-count":44,"journal-issue":{"issue":"7","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,7]]}},"alternative-id":["life11070697"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/life11070697","relation":{},"ISSN":["2075-1729"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2075-1729","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2021,7,15]]}}}