The evaluation and treatment of hirsute women

Authors: Unluhizarci, Kursad; Sahin, Yilmaz; Kelestimur, Fahrettin

Source: Women's Health, Volume 1, Number 3, November 2005 , pp. 429-435(7)

Purchase options

The full text electronic article is available for purchase. You will be able to download the full text electronic article after payment.

$73.00 plus tax Refund Policy

More about this publication?

Women's Healthprovides a forum for specialists addressing those conditions that are unique to women or far more prevalent in women than in men. The journal focuses on current and emerging topics relating to the safe and effective management of therapy in women, taking into account issues such as key areas such as women's physiology and life-cycle hormonal changes, with all articles subject to rigorous peer review.
Editorial Board
Information for Authors
Submit a Paper
Subscribe to this Title
Information for Advertisers
Terms & Conditions
Information for Librarians
E-Access Trials
Ingenta is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites

More like this?

In this: publication
By this: publisher
In this Subject: Medicine , Public Health , Gender Studies
By this author: Unluhizarci, Kursad ; Sahin, Yilmaz ; Kelestimur, Fahrettin

Content Key:

- Free

- New

- Open Access

- Subscribed

- Free Trial

Abstract:

Hirsutism in women is defined as an excess of body hair in the androgen-sensitive skin regions. The different genetic backgrounds of various populations may affect the causes of hirsutism. In fact, the most important reason for investigation is to identify those women with androgen-secreting tumors, since they require different therapy. Hirsutism may have various causes, such as polycystic ovary syndrome, enzyme defects in adrenal steroid biosynthesis, Cushing’s syndrome, acromegaly, ovarian or adrenal tumors, or it may be idiopathic. In most patients, hirsutism is associated with hyperandrogenemia and the most common cause of androgen excess is polycystic ovary syndrome. Androgen-secreting tumors should be suspected when the onset and progression of hirsutism is rapid and/or when it is associated with virilization. Patients should be informed about the type and duration of therapy. The selection of drug/drugs depends on the severity of the hirsutism, associated conditions such as menstrual irregularities, systemic disorders such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension and any contraindication to possible therapeutic agents. Diane® 35 is the most common drug used for the suppression of ovarian androgen production. Peripheral blockade of androgen actions, by using spironolactone, finasteride or flutamide on the skin, is also effective in the treatment of hirsutism.

Keywords: anti-androgen therapy; etiology; hirsutism

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.2217/17455057.1.3.429