Every woman makes testosterone ( just as every man makes oestrogen). Usually however women don't make to much . If however a woman , or a young girl , develops new hirsutism ( excess hair in these areas ), a potential underlying cause can include either too much testosterone and / or an acquired sensitivity to testosterone.
In over 90-95% of cases , there is no clear cause identified but it is essential to exclude any cause that does account for the other 5%. Once again, this involves a detailed case history and exam as well as appropriate tests and investigations. If a cause is identified, this needs to be treated.
If no cause is identified, we refer to the diagnosis as ' idiopathic ' and in this instance one can institute medications that can also complement any cosmetic procedures ( and sometimes replace them entirely ) that include waxing , electrolysis, laser etc. There is a scoring chart that is useful to identify the particular areas that are ' androgenic dependant' and both the patient and the endocrinologist can use this as an initial diagnostic tool and latterly to determine respond in a numerical fashion.
This is called the Ferriman Galwey Score with a minimum score of 0, and a maximum score of 36. It applies equally to teenagers ( whom we can also treat ) as well as adults .
Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism
