Relationship between Sex Hormones and Hirsutism in Women

Abstract

Background: Hirsutism is the presence or an excess of terminal hair growth in women in a male-like pattern dependent on the androgen hormones. It is a common disease that affects about (5-10%) of women. The causes of hirsutism are divided into three types: high androgen hormone such as polycystic ovary syndrome, which is the most common cause, and hyperprolactinaemia, non-androgen hormone, and idiopathic hirsutism.  

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between hirsutism and sex hormones, prolactin ,testosterone, luteinizing hormone and follicular stimulating hormone.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in outpatient clinic of Kalar general hospital, Al-Sulaimaniya governorate, Iraq, for the period from 15^th February to 30^th  April 2015. Two groups were included, the first one consisted of (100) women with hirsutism, of them (75) Kurdish women and (25) Arabic women, their ages ranged from (15-45years), and the second group included (25) apparently healthy women as control group, a biochemical laboratory tests and ultrasound was conducted to determine the hormonal levels and to support the clinical diagnosis. Hormonal assay were done according to manufactural instruction for each kit. Statistical analysis was done by using the computer windows system (SPPS14). 

Results: The mean age of women with hirsutism was 26 years, while the control group the mean age was 31years., although there was elevation of prolactin in (38%) of patients and of testosterone in (20%) of the control group, there was no significant difference noticed between both groups.  The concentration of luteinizing hormone and follicular stimulating hormone were normal in both groups. These data indicated that there was no relationship between hirsutism and sex hormone in affected women, i.e. most of patients had idiopathic hirsutism, which was differed from western countries in which the most common cause of hirsutism was polycystic ovary syndrome. 

Conclusion: It was concluded from the present study, that there was no relationship between the hirsutism and sex hormones in affected women.