Hormonal and Clinical Evaluation of Patients with Moderate Body Hair Growth

In a study conducted 30 years ago, 50 fertile non-obese women with moderate body hair growth were compared to 30 matched controls to evaluate hormonal differences. The study found that women with body hair growth had significantly higher levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S) and prolactin (PRL), and lower levels of sex steroid binding protein (SBP). Prolactin levels were determined to be independent of other hormonal parameters, while a negative correlation existed between DHEA-S and SBP. Clinical improvement in body hair growth was noted in subjects treated with ethynylestradiol combined with either desogestrel or cyproterone acetate, which increased SBP levels rather than decreasing DHEA-S levels. This suggests that PRL levels should be considered when deciding on treatment for women with mild body hair growth.