Androgen Excess in Women: Experience with Over 1000 Consecutive Patients
February 2004
in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism”
TLDR Most women with excess male hormones have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, and hormonal therapy can improve symptoms but may cause side effects.
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.
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research Androgen Excess in Women: Experience with Over 1000 Consecutive Patients
Most women with excess male hormones have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, and hormonal therapy can improve symptoms but may cause side effects.