When there is “male pattern of hair growth in females” it is called hirsutism and if hirsutism is aggressive form with additional signs and symptoms like voice become male type (deep voice), breasts become smaller, and clitoris becomes enlarged, there is increased in muscle bulk etc. it is called virilization. In other words virilization is severe form of hirsutism or next stage of hirsutism. There is also increased libido in virilization. Generally virilization is an ominous sign and suggests a high possibility of an ovarian or adrenal tumor.
Hirsutism is fairly common problem among females and affects approximately 10% of female population. But hirsutism is only a variation of normal hair growth and generally do not cause any significant physical problem, although it can cause considerable psychological problem among females. Very rarely hirsutism is indicative of serious underlying pathology, but commonly virilization is indicative of serious underlying pathology.
The cause of hirsutism is commonly idiopathic (unknown cause) and in most of the cases the commonest pathology involved is androgen excess (like in case of congenital adrenal hyperplasia or CAH and polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS).
The sites which are involved in male pattern of hair growth are upper lip (mustache), chin (beard), chest, abdomen, upper back, lower back, upper arms, pelvis and thighs. These are the nine areas of human body which are sensitive to androgen and excess androgen causes growth of hairs in these areas to cause hirsutism in females. In general males have higher levels of androgens and that’s why males have male pattern of hair growth like beard and mustache. The clinical assessment of hirsutism is also done by taking into account of these nine androgen sensitive areas.
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