The Grade of Hirsutism Correlated to Serum Androgen Levels and Hormonal Indices

The study examined 64 hirsute women to explore the relationship between hirsutism and serum androgen levels, focusing on the ratio of luteinizing hormone (LH) to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). The women were divided into two groups based on their LH/FSH ratio. In the group with a ratio of 3.0 or less (49 women), free testosterone and androstenedione levels showed a significant correlation with the hirsutism score, while sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) had an inverse correlation. No such correlations were found in the group with a higher LH/FSH ratio (15 women). The study concluded that in women with a lower LH/FSH ratio, certain indices of hyperandrogenism, such as T/SHBG, correlated well with the degree of hirsutism, indicating a link between hirsutism and hyperandrogenism.