Epidemiology of Hirsutism Among Women of Reproductive Age in the Community: A Simplified Scoring System

In a study involving 10,120 Chinese women of reproductive age, researchers found that a simplified scoring system using the modified Ferriman-Galwey (mF-G) method could effectively diagnose hirsutism. They determined that a score greater than 4 should be used for diagnosis in this population, with a focus on hair growth on the upper lip, thighs, and lower abdomen. A cut-off value of 2 for these areas yielded a high sensitivity of 98.7% and specificity of 91.0%. The study also observed that the prevalence of hirsutism and the average mF-G score decreased with age. This large-scale epidemiological study suggests that the diagnostic criteria for hirsutism may need to be adjusted for different age groups and provides a simplified method for clinical evaluation.