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Idiopathic Hirsutism

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Androgen Excess Disorders in Women

Part of the book series: Contemporary Endocrinology ((COE))

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Abstract

During the past two decades, the definition of idiopathic hirsutism (IH) has changed many times along with our improved understanding of the different androgen excess disorders. Currently, the diagnosis of IH requires evidence of hirsutism, normal androgens, normal ovulatory cycles, and normal ovarian morphology. Using these criteria, the prevalence of IH is generally less than 10% of hirsute women. Differentiation from other causes of hirsutism is important because in patients with IH there is no need for further endocrine and metabolic evaluation.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

    Enrico Carmina

Authors
  1. Enrico Carmina
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Androgen Related Disorders, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center; and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Department of Medicine, The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA

    Ricardo Azziz MD, MPH, MBA

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

    John E. Nestler MD

  3. Department of Endocrine Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, Lille University Hospital, Lille, France

    Didier Dewailly MD

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© 2006 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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Carmina, E. (2006). Idiopathic Hirsutism. In: Azziz, R., Nestler, J.E., Dewailly, D. (eds) Androgen Excess Disorders in Women. Contemporary Endocrinology. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-179-6_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-179-6_12

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-663-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59745-179-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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