Objective: To evaluate the clinical signs and hormonal changes in women who complained of increased hair growth.
Material and methods: We studied 122 female residents of Lithuania aged 18-35 years who were referred to the Clinic of Endocrinology of Kaunas University of Medicine Hospital in 2002-2003 for excessive body hair growth. Increased body hair was graded using the Ferriman-Gallwey (F-G) method. Hirsutism was defined when the F-G score was > or =8.
Results: Hirsutism was present in 74 (60.66 %) females and in 48 (39.34 %) no hirsutism was noted. The females with hirsutism complained more frequently of infertility (p<0.05), increased greasiness of skin (p<0.05) and noted the progressing increase of hair growth (p<0.05). No differences in frequency of menstrual disorders and acne were found. The females with hirsutism had significantly higher body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, larger waist and hip circumference (p<0.001) and higher waist/hip ratio (p<0.01). The significantly higher levels of testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (p<0.05), higher values of free androgen index (p<0.001) and significantly lower levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (p<0.01) were found in females with hirsutism. Women were prone to overestimate the increased hair growth, when compared with the physician's assessment (p<0.05). No significant difference was found (p>0.05) comparing the mean values of testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin, free androgen index and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate between two groups divided according to the subjective evaluation of excessive hair growth by females.
Conclusions: Women are prone to overestimate the increased hair growth. The significantly higher levels of testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, higher values of free androgen index and lower levels of sex hormone binding globulin (p<0.01) were found in females with hirsutism. The females with hirsutism complained more frequently of infertility, increased greasiness of skin, had higher body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, larger waist and hip circumference and higher waist/hip ratio.