Menstrual Irregularity in Hirsute Women
September 1997
in “
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology
”
TLDR Hirsute women with ovarian-sourced hirsutism are more likely to have irregular periods, with higher BMI and altered hormone ratios.
The study investigated menstrual irregularity in hirsute women and its association with hormonal levels. A total of 215 hirsute patients with Ferriman-Gallwey (FG) scores greater than 10 were evaluated for various clinical and hormonal parameters, including body mass index (BMI), FSH/LH ratios, and testosterone levels. Menstrual irregularity was found in 73 out of the 215 patients. Those with irregular menses had a significantly higher BMI and lower FSH/LH ratios, but testosterone levels, while higher in this group, did not reach statistical significance. Among patients with ovarian-sourced hirsutism, 63.93% had irregular menses and significantly higher testosterone levels compared to those with regular menses. However, no significant differences in clinical and hormonal parameters were found in patients with peripheral hirsutism or late-onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia. The study concluded that menstrual irregularity is more commonly associated with ovarian-sourced hirsutism, and except for BMI and FSH/LH ratios, there were no significant differences in clinical and hormonal features between patients with irregular and regular menses.
