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Hirsutism

Jarrett Keller Sell, MD FAAFP AAHIVS Reviewed 04/2024
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Presence of excessive terminal (coarse, pigmented) hair of body and face, in a male pattern

  • May be present as an ethnic characteristic or may develop as a result of androgen excess

  • Oft...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Severity, time course, and age of onset of hirsutism

  • Weight, BMI

  • Psychosocial impact on patient

  • Menstrual and fertility history, anovulation (defined as ovulatory cycle >35 days)

  • Sever...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Treatment depends on patient preference and psychosocial effect.

  • Treatment goal is to decrease new hair growth and improve metabolic disorders.

  • If patient desires pregnancy, in...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Patient Monitoring

Monitor for known side effects of medications. 

DIET

Diet consisting of low-calorie, low-glycemic index foods improve fertility and metabolic para...

REFERENCES

1
Martin  KA, Anderson  RR, Chang  RJ, et al. Evaluation and treatment of hirsutism in premenopausal women: an endocrine society clinical practice guideline. J Clin E...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Teede HJ, Misso ML, Costello MF, et al; International PCOS Network. Recommendations from the international evidence-based guideline for the assessment and management o...

SEE ALSO

Acne Vulgaris; Infertility; Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) 

CODES

ICD10

  • L68.0 Hirsutism

  • E28.2 Polycystic ovarian syndrome

SNOMED

  • 399939002 Hirsutism (disorder)

  • 69878008 Polycystic ovaries (disorder)

  • 504009 Androgen-dependent hirsutism

  • 201159000 idiopathic hirsutism (...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • PCOS is the most common cause of hirsutism (diagnosed with two out of three: menstrual dysfunction, clinical or biochemical hyperandrogenemia, polycystic ovaries on US).

  • Diagnosis is ba...

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