Hirsutism in Women: Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options

    August 2019 in “ PubMed ”
    Eric M. Matheson, Jennifer Bain
    TLDR Hirsutism in women is mostly caused by polycystic ovary syndrome and idiopathic hyperandrogenism.
    Hirsutism in women is characterized by excessive growth of terminal hair in a male pattern, often due to high androgen levels. Polycystic ovary syndrome and idiopathic hyperandrogenism account for over 85% of cases, with other causes including nonclassic congenital adrenal hyperplasia, androgen-secreting tumors, and certain medications. Diagnosis involves evaluating androgen levels, especially in women with rapid onset or virilization signs. Treatment options include pharmacologic agents like combined oral contraceptives, finasteride, spironolactone, and topical eflornithine, which should be tried for at least 6 months. Hair removal methods such as shaving, waxing, and plucking are temporary, while photoepilation and electrolysis offer more permanent solutions but are costly.
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Related Community Posts Join

    6 / 25 results

      community How does hair loss and recovery work?

      in Chat  12 upvotes 3 months ago
      Hair loss varies due to genetic sensitivity to DHT and other factors. Treatments discussed include finasteride, minoxidil, RU58841, and microneedling.

      community Female, 30, PCOS diagnosis, MPB Norwood 2. Endo refuses to give anything other than Spironolactone. Feel like I’m at my wit’s end here.

      in Female  53 upvotes 1 year ago
      A 30-year-old female with PCOS and male pattern baldness is frustrated with her endocrinologist's recommendation of only Spironolactone and minoxidil, feeling that dutasteride, finasteride, and progesterone would be more effective. Other users suggest various online sources for treatments, warn against self-medicating due to potential risks, and recommend seeking a specialized endocrinologist or considering additional treatments like Inositol, Berberine, and dermaneedling.

      community AA and Hirsutism but T levels are normal

      in Female  8 upvotes 3 years ago
      27-year-old female experiences aggressive hair thinning and hirsutism despite normal testosterone levels. Spironolactone and 2% minoxidil were ineffective; high DHEA sulfate levels may be the cause.

      community Finasteride 5mg & Spironolactone 100mg

      in Female  2 upvotes 3 weeks ago
      A 20-year-old female is using finasteride 5mg and spironolactone 100mg for severe hirsutism and is experiencing minor side effects like water weight loss and irregular periods. She is concerned about potential future side effects and hair regrowth on her scalp.

      community No, Finasteride as a treatment for MPB was not an "accident"

      in Research/Science  105 upvotes 3 years ago
      Finasteride was intentionally developed to treat BPH and later approved for male pattern baldness (MPB) due to its 5AR inhibition effects. The delay in MPB approval was due to concerns about off-label use for female hirsutism and the prioritization of treating a more debilitating condition.

      community Coegin Pharma to release Follicopeptide (FOL005) by Q2 2025

      in Treatment  118 upvotes 3 months ago
      Follicopeptide (FOL005) by Coegin Pharma will launch as a cosmetic hair growth treatment by Q2 2025, showing similar efficacy to finasteride. Users discuss the benefits and skepticism of releasing hair loss treatments as cosmetics rather than drugs.

    Related Research

    5 / 5 results