Epidemiology, diagnosis and management of hirsutism: a consensus statement by the Androgen Excess and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Society
November 2011
in “Human reproduction update”
TLDR Experts recommend using evidence-based methods to diagnose and treat hirsutism, focusing on symptoms and underlying causes.
The document reviewed the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of hirsutism, a condition characterized by excessive terminal hair growth in women. The prevalence of hirsutism is approximately 10% across most populations, with a notably lower incidence in Far-East Asian women. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common cause, but hirsutism can also indicate serious conditions, such as life-threatening tumors. The paper emphasizes the importance of evidence-based diagnostic and treatment approaches that focus on both improving the symptoms of hirsutism and addressing its underlying causes. Given that hirsutism typically requires long-term management, the document provides guidelines for the etiological diagnosis and management of this common condition.
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