Androgenic Alopecia in Postmenopausal Ovarian Hyperthecosis
May 2011
in “
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
”
TLDR Hair loss in postmenopausal women due to ovarian hyperthecosis is rare, but removing the ovaries can significantly improve the condition.
In 2011, a case study was conducted on a 70-year-old woman with a 5-year history of progressive hirsutism and baldness. Her hormonal profile showed elevated serum total testosterone, but other health indicators were normal. An MRI scan revealed a 3.5 cm fibroid in the uterus, but no adrenal or ovarian tumors. After undergoing a hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, histological examination revealed benign uterine leiomyomata and bilateral ovarian hyperthecosis. Four months post-surgery, her testosterone level normalized, and both hirsutism and baldness improved. The study concluded that androgenic alopecia caused by postmenopausal hyperthecosis is rare, and treatment with bilateral oophorectomy can significantly improve the alopecia.