What is the cause of hirsutism?
Hirsutism is nearly always genetic in origin. Female and male relatives may also have more hair than the average so hirsutism is normal in that family. Unfortunately in our society, to be hirsute is thought unattractive. The only reason that fashion models appear to have little hair, is that they spend a lot of time and energy removing it. Although some women with hirsutism have increased amounts of male hormones or androgens (e.g. testosterone), most have normal levels. The problem in these women is that the hairs are more sensitive than normal to small amounts of hormone. The hairs grow more quickly and thicker in response to it. The increased hair growth is usually first noted in late teenage years and tends to gradually get more severe as the woman gets older. The main conditions associated with excessive androgens are polycystic ovaries and less often, congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
