The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2009;11:2:101-107
doi: 10.1576/toag.11.2.101.27483
Copyright © 2009 by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
Hirsutism in young women
Rebecca Swingler, MRCOG, Specialist Registrar in Obstetrics and Gynaecology1,
Alero Awala, MRCOG, Consultant2 and
Uma Gordon, MD FRCOG, Consultant3
1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St Michaels Hospital, Southwell Street, Bristol BS2 8EG, UK Email: rebeccaswingler{at}hotmail.com (corresponding author)
2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Watford General Hospital, Vicarage Road, Watford WD18 0HB, UK
3. Bristol Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Southmead Hospital, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol BS10 5NB, UK
Key content:
- Hirsutism is a distressing condition affecting 5–15% of women.
- It is usually associated with an underlying endocrine disorder: in 70–80% of women with hirsutism this is polycystic ovary syndrome.
- Management depends upon the cause but combines lifestyle changes and cosmetic, physical and medical treatments.
- It takes 9–12 months for hormonal treatments to take their maximum effect.
Learning objectives:
- To learn how to assess women with hirsutism.
- To understand common and less common aetiologies.
- To be able to take a sensitive and sensible approach to management.
Ethical issues:
- To what extent should drugs not yet approved for use in women with hirsutism be used as a treatment for this condition?
- What is the role of the gynaecologist in ensuring women on drugs such as finasteride are using effective contraception?
Please cite this article as: Swingler R, Awala A, Gordon U. Hirsutism in young women. The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2009;11:101–107.
Keywords endocrine disorders / hyperandrogenism / polycystic ovary syndrome / virilisation
Copyright © 2009 by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.