What are the effects of treatments in women with polycystic ovary syndrome?
Likely to be beneficial	Finasteride (may be similarly effective in reducing hirsutism as spironolactone and cyproterone acetate/ethinyl estradiol)
	Flutamide (may be similarly effective in reducing hirsutism as finasteride and spironolactone)
	Metformin (improved menstrual pattern compared with placebo; reduced hirsutism compared with cyproterone acetate/ethinyl estradiol)
	Spironolactone (may be similarly effective for reducing hirsutism as flutamide and finasteride)
Trade-off between benefits and harms	Cyproterone acetate/ethinyl estradiol (co-cyprindiol; reduced hirsutism but increased risk of venous thromboembolism)
Unknown effectiveness	Ketoconazole
	Mechanical hair removal
	Weight loss (interventions to achieve weight loss)