Title: Clinical and Biochemical Profile of Women Presenting with Hirsutism and It’s Treatment Outcome-A Prospective Study
Authors: Dr D.S.Bebincy, Dr S. A. Meena, Dr Devika
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v5i5.51
Abstract
Background: Hirsutism is the excessive growth of terminal hair in androgen dependent areas of a woman’s body. It can be idiopathic or pathological. The treatment varies according to the cause of hirsutism.
Objectives: This study was done to evaluate the various causes of hirsutism by clinical methods and biochemical investigations and their outcome noted after treatment for six months. The treatment was given depending upon the cause of hirsutism.
Materials and Methods: We evaluated 73 subjects with hirsutism. The age group ranged from 15 to 51 years. The study was conducted at the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kanyakumari Government Medical College, Asaripallam from January 2013to January 2016. Scoring of hirsutism was done using modified Ferriman-Gallwey scoring system. Scoring > 8 was considered as hirsutism. All the subjects were evaluated clinically and biochemically. OCP containing cyproterone acetate 2 mg and ethinyl estradiol 35 microgram was given for subjects with PCOD and idiopathic hirsutism and metformin was added if BMI was > 25 kg/m2.
Results: In this study, hirsutism was commonly seen between 20 and 31 years. The main cause of hirsutism was PCOD (63%). There were 4 subjects with androgen secreting ovarian tumours and one subject with late onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia. There existed a statistical significance between the PCOD and the non PCOD groups with respect to the complaints of infertility (p=0.012), menstrual irregularities (p=0.041) and weight gain (p=0.002). The outcome was evaluated in 64 subjects. There was a reduction in the scoring of hirsutism in both the PCOD (p=.000) and the non PCOD groups (p=0.001) after treatment for six months. The mean reduction in the scoring of hirsutism was 1 in the PCOD group and 1.18 in the non PCOD group. There was also a significant reduction in weight in both the groups after treatment (p=0.000).
Conclusion: Though hirsutism is a cosmetic problem, it also causes psychological insult to a woman. It can also be a manifestation of an underlying health problem. It can also be idiopathic. Hence women with hirsutism should be evaluated completely and given treatment based upon the cause.
Keywords: Hirsutism, modified Ferriman-Gallwey scoring, androgen, PCOD, non PCOD, tumours, virilization, free testosterone, infertility, Cyproterone acetate, Ethinyl Estradiol, Metformin
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