New Onset Alopecia and Hirsutism in a Postmenopausal Woman

January 2009 in “ Gynecological Endocrinology ”

Annette Bühler-Christen, Verena Tischler, Pierre-André Diener, Michael Brändle

androgenic alopecia hirsutism ovarian hyperthecosis hyperandrogenism testosterone ovarectomy hair loss excess hair growth OH high androgen levels ovary removal

TLDR A postmenopausal woman's hair loss and excess hair growth improved after surgery for ovarian hyperthecosis.

In a 2009 study, a 73-year-old postmenopausal woman presented with new onset of androgenic alopecia and hirsutism. Despite initial tests showing no adrenal or ovarian tumors, further evaluation revealed increased ovarian size. She underwent bilateral ovarectomy, which confirmed the diagnosis of ovarian hyperthecosis (OH) through histopathological examination. After the surgery, her testosterone levels returned to normal, and her symptoms of hirsutism and alopecia improved. This case underscores the necessity of considering OH in the differential diagnosis for postmenopausal women with recent hyperandrogenism and the importance of thorough imaging reviews, as OH can be difficult to detect.

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Research cited in this study

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