Prevalence of Polycystic Ovaries in Women with Androgenic Alopecia

November 2003 in “ European journal of endocrinology ”

Ester Cela, Carole Robertson, Karen Rush, Eleni Kousta, Davinia White, H. R. Wilson, Glenn Lyons, Philip J. Kingsley, Mark I. McCarthy, Stephen Franks

androgenic alopecia polycystic ovaries hirsutism testosterone androstenedione free androgen index hyperandrogenemia androgen metabolism PCOS type 2 diabetes androgenic alopecia PCOS type 2 diabetes

Studysummary This study found that women with androgenic alopecia had a higher prevalence of polycystic ovarian morphology and higher androgen levels compared to controls, suggesting a strong association with PCO.

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The 2003 study involving 89 women with androgenic alopecia and 73 control women found that a significantly higher proportion of women with alopecia had polycystic ovaries (67% vs. 27%) and hirsutism (21% vs. 4%). Women with alopecia also exhibited higher levels of testosterone, androstenedione, and free androgen index, suggesting an association with hyperandrogenemia. Despite most having normal androgen levels, the presence of elevated androgen metabolism indices pointed to a strong link between androgenic alopecia and PCO. The findings imply that androgenic alopecia may be an indicator of PCOS, which is important for patient management due to the associated risk of type 2 diabetes.

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Research cited in this study

4 / 4 results

research Skin Manifestations of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

6 citations , January 2001 in “Cambridge University Press eBooks”

This review discusses how androgen excess in polycystic ovary syndrome can lead to hirsutism, seborrhea, and worsen conditions like androgenetic alopecia and acne, but includes no new research findings.

research Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Clinical and Biochemical Features

1947 citations , September 1995 in “New England journal of medicine/The New England journal of medicine”

This article discusses the heterogeneity of polycystic ovary syndrome, its association with insulin resistance, and its implications for long-term health, but reports no new clinical results.

A Prospective Study of the Prevalence of Clear-Cut Endocrine Disorders and Polycystic Ovaries in 350 Patients Presenting with Hirsutism or Androgenic Alopecia

research A Prospective Study of the Prevalence of Clear-Cut Endocrine Disorders and Polycystic Ovaries in 350 Patients Presenting with Hirsutism or Androgenic Alopecia

135 citations , August 1994 in “Clinical Endocrinology”

In this study of women with hirsutism or androgenic alopecia, diverse underlying endocrine disorders including polycystic ovaries and various enzyme deficiencies were detected, often associated with elevated testosterone levels.

research Classification of the Types of Androgenetic Alopecia (Common Baldness) Occurring in the Female Sex

666 citations , September 1977 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

This article presents a classification system for stages of female-pattern androgenetic alopecia to aid early diagnosis and mentions existing systems for rare male-pattern cases, but reports no new clinical results.