YOU may have heard the term before; it is one of the markers used to identify polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common hormonal disorder in women which affects fertility. Hirsutism is a condition where there is unwanted male-pattern hair growth in women — on the face, chest, abdomen and back.

Gynaecologist Dr Charles Rockhead said the excess hair growth may arise from increased levels of the hormone androgen. The diagnosis is made by a medical practitioner and is usually a symptom of an underlying immune condition.

He said a number of conditions can lead to hirsutism and some include PCOS, Cushing disease, tumours of the ovary, adrenal gland cancers, congenital and adrenal hyperplasia, obesity, and use of certain hair growth medications such as Minoxidil.

One way to determine if the condition is hirsutism is by using a scoring system called the Ferriman-Gallwey Score, which quantifies the amount and location of hair growth in women. A blood test may also be done to determine the amount of circulating testosterone that may be a contributing factor to hirsutism. Also, an ultrasound may be conducted to evaluate the ovaries.

Dr Rockhead said that there is also a type of hirsutism called idiopathic hirsutism, which has no identifiable cause.

Treatment, he said, will be dependent on treating the underlying medical conditions that may trigger hirsutism. In the case of increased androgen levels, Dr Rockhead suggested using anti-androgens, which block androgens from attaching to their receptors in your body. However, some may cause birth defects.

Other drugs include Finasteride or Propecia and Flutamide, which prevent androgens from acting on hair follicles. Dr Rockhead said lifestlye changes such as reducing weight, addressing insulin resistance, dieting and regular exercise may help to reduce hirsutism.

— Kimberley Hibbert