Androgenized fetuses

Spironolactone is an antiandrogen which blocks androgen-receptors, alters steroidogenesis by adrenals and gonads and inhibits 5-a reductase. In doses of 100-200 mg daily it reduces sebum production and improves inflammatory acne in women. During treatment, birth control measures are required due to the risk of male fetus feminization. 

The fact that we all begin life basically as females can be appreciated in several ways. For example, if the testes are removed from an embryonic male fetus, the individual is bom female. Males lacking functional androgen receptors provide a second example these individuals are phenotypicaUy female, a phenomenon known as testicular feminization. It follows that embryonic mammals are targeted to become females unless androgens intervene in the development and differentiation process. 

Predictable effects that derive from the known pharmacological drug properties. Examples are masculin-ization of the female fetus by androgenic hormones brain hemorrhage due to oral anticoagulants bradycardia due to p-blockers. 

Like other steroids, testosterone acts intracellularly in target cells. In skin, prostate, seminal vesicles, and epididymis, it is converted to 5k -dihydrotestosterone by 5K-reductase. In these tissues, dihydrotestosterone is the dominant androgen. The distribution of this enzyme in the fetus is different and has important developmental implications. 

Androgens Second and third Masculinization of female fetus... 

There are no data to support the use of finasteride in women with androgenic alopecia. Pregnant women should not be exposed to finasteride either by use or by handling crushed tablets because of the risk of hypospadias developing in a male fetus. 

Androgen synthesis in the human male fetus begins at the age of about 70 days when the testes enlarge and go through an important period of activity that begins the conversion of the infant body to a male type. Other bursts of testosterone synthesis occur during infancy, but there is little further synthesis until the onset of puberty.268 272... 

There are no firm data on the use of corticotropin in pregnancy both glucocorticoid and androgenic effects might be expected to affect the fetus. 

Water retention occasionally occurs and may reflect a degree of deoxycortone acetate (DOCA)-like activity virilization of a female fetus is more likely to occur with a product that has some androgenic activity, and breast tenderness with a product that has estrogenic activity. 

In females Androgens can cause masculinization with acne, growth of facial hair, deepening of the voice, male pattern baldness, and excessive muscle development. Menstrual irregularities may also occur. Testosterone should not be used by pregnant women, because of the possible virilization of the female fetus. 

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