Androgen Excess in Women: Experience with Over 1000 Consecutive Patients

In a study conducted from 1987 to 2002, 873 patients with symptoms of androgen excess were analyzed. The majority of patients (82.0%) were diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), while other conditions such as idiopathic hirsutism and hyperandrogenic insulin-resistant acanthosis nigricans syndrome were less common. Of the 257 patients assessed for response to hormonal therapy, improvements were seen in hirsutism (86%), menstrual dysfunction (80%), and acne (81%), but only 33% saw improvements in hair loss. However, over 60% of patients experienced side effects like irregular vaginal bleeding, nausea, and headaches. The study concluded that specific identifiable disorders were observed in about 7% of subjects, while functional androgen excess, mainly PCOS, was observed in the remainder.