Understanding hirsutism in PCOS

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Hirsutism is a prevalent condition among women and represents a primary clinical feature of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Areas covered

Our study aims to address the principal challenges associated with this hyperandrogenic manifestation in PCOS women. Our narrative review based on the available indexed literature explored the complexities of establishing mFG cutoff values for various ethnic groups, investigated hirsutism during peri- and postmenopausal stages, and examined the role of oxyandrogens.

Expert opinion

Hirsutism may have a negative impact on the quality of life and on the mental health, being associated with anxiety and depression. Future perspectives for its diagnosis include the use of artificial intelligence and the consideration of the distress caused by excessive hair growth.

KEYWORDS:

• Hirsutism
• PCOS
• modified ferriman-gallwey scale
• hyperandrogenism
• excessive hair growrh

Article highlights

• Hirsutism is a key clinical manifestation of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and may vary according to ethnicity.

• While the Ferriman-Gallwey score is the standard to determine the presence and the degree of hirsutism, other alternative options to identify excessive hair growth should be developed.

• There are challenges regarding the definition of hirsutism as the inclusion of distress caused by increased hair is not usually considered.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG) grant number APQ-01955-22; FVC is sponsored by scholarship (Bolsa PQ-2) of the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) from the Brazilian Ministry of Science and Technology (MCT) number 315491/2021-3.