Update on Idiopathic Hirsutism: Diagnosis and Treatment

The document from July 1, 2013, provides an update on idiopathic hirsutism (IH), a condition of excessive hair growth in women with normal ovulatory function and normal serum androgen levels, which makes up 10-20% of all hirsutism cases. The cause of IH is not fully understood, but it may involve increased peripheral 5α-reductase activity and androgen receptor gene polymorphisms. Treatment options include androgen suppression, peripheral androgen blockade, and cosmetic methods, with oral contraceptives and antiandrogen drugs like spironolactone, cyproterone acetate, finasteride, flutamide, bicalutamide, and drospirenone being discussed. Combination therapy is most effective, especially for resistant cases. Mechanical and cosmetic treatments such as electrolysis and laser epilation are also used, with laser treatment having potential side effects that can be minimized with current technologies. The document highlights the need for more research to understand the genetic, molecular, and metabolic aspects of IH and emphasizes the importance of effective contraception during treatment due to teratogenic risks. No funding or conflicts of interest were reported for this research.