Androgenetic Alopecia in a Postmenopausal Woman Due to Ovarian Hyperthecosis

February 2003 in “ Australasian Journal of Dermatology ”

Youngjin Kim, Veli-Matti Marjoniemi, Terry Diamond, Adrian Lim, Greg Davis, Dedee F. Murrell

androgenetic alopecia ovarian hyperthecosis testosterone androstenedione estradiol bilateral oophorectomy endocrinological evaluation female pattern hair loss ovarian mass hormone levels ovary removal hormone test

TLDR Hair loss in postmenopausal woman caused by ovarian issue.

This article reports a case of androgenetic alopecia in a postmenopausal woman caused by ovarian hyperthecosis. The patient had elevated levels of testosterone, androstenedione, and estradiol, and imaging suggested a right ovarian mass. Bilateral oophorectomy was performed, and histology confirmed bilateral ovarian hyperthecosis. The article suggests that ovarian hyperthecosis should be considered as a possible cause of androgenetic alopecia in postmenopausal women, and that a full endocrinological evaluation is necessary for patients with elevated serum testosterone levels.

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