OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of idiopathic hirsutism among a population of consecutive hirsute patients. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: University-based clinic. PATIENT(S): Premenopausal women with a complaint of hirsutism who were not receiving hormonal therapy. INTERVENTION(S): Evaluations for total and free testosterone, (T), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-HP), and DHEAS serum levels. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Ovulatory function in women with cycles of < or =35 days in length was assessed with a basal body temperature (BBT) calendar and day 22-24 progesterone levels. RESULT(S): Of 132 consecutive hirsute women studied, 68 had cycles of >35 days in length. Of the remaining 64 patients, 25 also had oligo/anovulation by BBT and day 22-24 progesterone level. Of the 39 patients with hirsutism and regular ovulatory function, 22 had total and free T and DHEAS levels within normal limits. CONCLUSION(S): If idiopathic hirsutism is defined by the presence of hirsutism, regular ovulation, and normal androgen levels, only 17% of consecutive hirsute patients can be diagnosed with the disorder. Alternatively, if idiopathic hirsutism is based solely on the presence of hirsutism and regular ovulation, regardless of androgen levels, then 29% of the total hirsute population can be considered as having idiopathic hirsutism. Importantly, 40% of hirsute patients with a history of "regular cycles" were actually oligo/anovulatory, indicating the need to objectively assess ovulatory function in such patients.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of idiopathic hirsutism among a population of consecutive hirsute patients. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: University-based clinic. PATIENT(S): Premenopausal women with a complaint of hirsutism who were not receiving hormonal therapy. INTERVENTION(S): Evaluations for total and free testosterone, (T), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-HP), and DHEAS serum levels. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Ovulatory function in women with cycles of < or =35 days in length was assessed with a basal body temperature (BBT) calendar and day 22-24 progesterone levels. RESULT(S): Of 132 consecutive hirsute women studied, 68 had cycles of >35 days in length. Of the remaining 64 patients, 25 also had oligo/anovulation by BBT and day 22-24 progesterone level. Of the 39 patients with hirsutism and regular ovulatory function, 22 had total and free T and DHEAS levels within normal limits. CONCLUSION(S): If idiopathic hirsutism is defined by the presence of hirsutism, regular ovulation, and normal androgen levels, only 17% of consecutive hirsute patients can be diagnosed with the disorder. Alternatively, if idiopathic hirsutism is based solely on the presence of hirsutism and regular ovulation, regardless of androgen levels, then 29% of the total hirsute population can be considered as having idiopathic hirsutism. Importantly, 40% of hirsute patients with a history of "regular cycles" were actually oligo/anovulatory, indicating the need to objectively assess ovulatory function in such patients.
Authors: Richard S Legro; William D Schlaff; Michael P Diamond; Christos Coutifaris; Peter R Casson; Robert G Brzyski; Gregory M Christman; J C Trussell; Stephen A Krawetz; Peter J Snyder; Dana Ohl; Sandra A Carson; Michael P Steinkampf; Bruce R Carr; Peter G McGovern; Nicholas A Cataldo; Gabriella G Gosman; John E Nestler; Evan R Myers; Nanette Santoro; Esther Eisenberg; Meizhuo Zhang; Heping Zhang Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 2010-09-08 Impact factor: 5.958
Authors: Richard S Legro; William C Dodson; Carol L Gnatuk; Stephanie J Estes; Allen R Kunselman; Juliana W Meadows; James S Kesner; Edward F Krieg; Ann M Rogers; Randy S Haluck; Robert N Cooney Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 2012-10-12 Impact factor: 5.958
Authors: Malcolm G Munro; Adam H Balen; SiHyun Cho; Hilary O D Critchley; Ivonne Díaz; Rui Ferriani; Laurie Henry; Edgar Mocanu; Zephne M van der Spuy Journal: Hum Reprod Date: 2022-09-30 Impact factor: 6.353