Are you a woman with excessive body hair? You may have PCOS

For the first time since 2008, the Endocrine Society issued an update to its Clinical Practice Guideline on hirsutism - a condition where women experience unwanted hair growth in areas where men typically grow hair.

Women with unwanted dark, course hair growing on the face, chest or back should undergo testing for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and other underlying health problems, experts suggest.

For the first time since 2008, the Endocrine Society issued an update to its Clinical Practice Guideline on hirsutism - a condition where women experience unwanted hair growth in areas where men typically grow hair.

“Excess facial or body hair is not only distressing to women, it is often a symptom of an underlying medical problem,” said Kathryn A Martin, of Massachusetts General Hospital in the US.

“It is important to see your health care provider to find out what is causing the excess hair growth and treat it,” said Martin.

Hirsutism affects 5 - 10 % of women. The excess hair growth can be caused by PCOS, a common condition that contributes to infertility and metabolic health problems. Society experts now suggest all women with hirsutism undergo blood tests for testosterone and other male sex hormones called androgens.

Women naturally have small amounts of these hormones, but the levels tend to be elevated in women with PCOS and other conditions that cause hirsutism. Experts previously called for testing for women with moderate to severe hirsutism, but the recommendation was broadened to improve diagnosis rates of PCOS and other underlying conditions.

For most women with hirsutism who are not trying to become pregnant, the authors suggest oral contraceptives as a first treatment. As long as a woman is not at risk of developing deep vein thrombosis or a pulmonary embolism, the type of oral contraceptive is not important, since they are all equally effective for treating hirsutism.

Although weight loss itself is not a recommended treatment for hirsutism, some studies have found it is associated with slight improvement in unwanted hair growth. As a result, experts recommend women with both obesity and hirsutism consider making lifestyle changes to improve their overall health. A healthy diet and exercise also can be beneficial for women who have PCOS.

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