Hanyang Med Rev.  2012 Nov;32(4):197-202. 10.7599/hmr.2012.32.4.197.

Hyperandrogenism in Women: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

• Sung YA

• KMID: 2168210
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7599/hmr.2012.32.4.197

Abstract

Hyperandrogenism refers to classical androgen-dependent signs such as hirsutism, acne and androgenetic alopecia. Disorders that result in androgen excess include specific identifiable disorders (i.e. disorders of inclusion), but the great majority of women presenting with hirsutism and other symptoms or signs of hyperandrogenism suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Hirsutism is the main hyperandrogenic symptom, defined as an excess of body hair in androgen-sensitive regions of skin in women. In this review, I attempt to focus on the pathogenesis of hirsutism, as well as clinical and biochemical features that are important in choosing therapeutic options. PCOS is the most common disorder of premenopausal women, affecting 4 to 8% of this population, and therefore, diagnostic issues of PCOS in Korean women will be addressed, specifically the reproductive and metabolic derangements and criteria for hyperandrogenism based on hirsutism and serum androgen concentrations.

Keyword

Hyperandrogenism; Hirsutism; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

MeSH Terms

Acne Vulgaris
Alopecia
Female
Hair
Hirsutism
Humans
Hyperandrogenism
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Skin

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Ferriman-Gallwey hirsutism scoring system. Each of the nine body areas most sensitive to androgen is assigned a score from 0 (no hair) to 4 (frankly virile), and these separate scores are summed to provide a hormonal hirsutism score. Ref. 5 with permission from Endocrine Society.

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  Fig. 2 Suggested algorithm for the initial evaluation of hirsute women for hyperandrogenism. T, testosterone; PCOS, polycystic ovary syndrome; OCP, oral contraceptive pill; AM, before noon. Ref. 5 with permission from Endocrine Society.

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