TLDR Ovarian hyperthecosis should be considered in young women with severe male-like symptoms and can be managed with hormone treatments.
Ovarian hyperthecosis (OHT) is a rare cause of severe hyperandrogenism in adolescents. This paper presents two cases: Patient A, a 13-year-old with androphonia and hirsutism, had elevated testosterone (8.3 nmol/L) and enlarged ovaries, treated with GnRH agonist and spironolactone; and Patient B, a 14-year-old with secondary amenorrhoea, androphonia, hirsutism, and androgenetic alopecia, had higher testosterone (12 nmol/L) and numerous ovarian follicles, managed with GnRH agonist and oral contraceptives. The study concludes that OHT should be considered in pre-menopausal women with severe hyperandrogenism, emphasizing gonadotropin suppression and hormone replacement for management.
3 citations,
October 2021 in “Postepy Dermatologii I Alergologii” Checking the chin, thighs, upper lip, or lower abdomen is enough to predict hirsutism.
27 citations,
April 2017 in “European journal of endocrinology” The research found that MRI and certain hormone levels can help tell apart ovarian tumors from hyperthecosis in postmenopausal women, but tissue analysis is still needed for a definite diagnosis.
2 citations,
January 2012 in “Journal of metabolic syndrome” The document concludes that hirsutism can be managed with various treatments tailored to the individual, potentially improving quality of life.
67 citations,
July 2006 in “Clinics in Dermatology” Androgens cause skin issues like acne and hair growth in women, often due to PCOS, and can be treated with medication and lifestyle changes.
36 citations,
May 2011 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism” Treatment with a hormone agonist can reduce excess male hormones in postmenopausal women without surgery.
22 citations,
January 2002 in “Treatments in endocrinology” Birth control pills help treat skin and hair growth problems linked to high male hormone levels.
November 2022 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Postmenopausal hyperandrogenism, a condition with symptoms like increased hair growth and acne, is usually caused by PCOS but can also be due to other factors. It's diagnosed by checking testosterone levels and treated either by removing the adrenal tumor or through antiandrogen therapy.
