A Detailed Investigation of Hirsutism in a Turkish Population: Idiopathic Hyperandrogenemia as a Perplexing Issue
October 2004
in “Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology & Diabetes”
TLDR The main cause of excessive hair growth in Turkish women is Polycystic ovary syndrome, but in about one fifth of cases, the reason for high male hormone levels is unknown.
The study conducted in 2004 investigated the causes of hirsutism in 168 Turkish women. The most common cause was Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), diagnosed in 57.1% of the patients. Idiopathic hirsutism was found in 16% of the patients, non-classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NCAH) in 7.1%, adrenal carcinoma in 1.8%, and Cushing's disease in 0.6%. Among NCAH patients, 91.7% had 11-β hydroxylase deficiency, and 8.3% had 21-hydroxylase deficiency. The cause of hyperandrogenemia was unclear in 17.4% of the patients, termed as idiopathic hyperandrogenemia. The study concluded that while PCOS was the most common cause of hirsutism, nearly one fifth of hirsute women had no apparent cause of hyperandrogenemia.
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research Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and NC-CAH: Distinct Characteristics and Common Findings. A Systematic Review
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is common in women with conditions like anovulation, hirsutism, hair loss, and type 2 diabetes, and it can lead to health risks like heart disease, obesity, insulin resistance, and depression. Non-Classic Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (NC-CAH) is also discussed.