Hirsutism among Women Attending Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital, (Clinical and Investigative Study)

Abstract

Background: Hirsutism is a cosmetic problem facing dermatologists, gynecologists & buticians. Aim of study: The aim of the study is to assess Hirsutism as cosmetic and disfiguring problem. Patients and Methods: Outpatient hospital based clinical and investigative study during one year period for female patients attending Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital for the period from January 2012 to January 2013. Each patient was interviewing for age, family history of hirsutism, medications and systemic diseases, menstrual and obstetric history, and associated signs of hyperandrogenism. Women who were pregnant or lactating, those who received drugs that could interfere with the hormonal and metabolic studies were excluded from the study. Quantification of hirsutism was done using Ferriman-Gallwey score(appendix1). Body mass index (weight/height²) was also calculated. The patient was examined clinically for any associated conditions like acne, alopecia ,acanthosis nigricans(signs &symptoms of hyperandrogenemia). Investigations included were estimation of thyroid hormones, total testosterone, luteinizing hormone , follicular stimulating hormone , serum prolactin levels ,and ultrasonography for adrenals and ovarieswas done also. Menstrual cycle history included a general review since menarche till the last year, to detect the presence of any menstrual irregularities. The study exclude all cases with metabolic syndrome, cases treated with hormones and or LASER therapy. A data were processed in computer program Microsoft-office-Excel-2007 & EPI-info Version 6. Results: One hundred five patients with hirsutism aged between 15 and 50 years Fifty seven percent of patients were aged 20 – 30 years. The average F-G score was 10.53±7.19 Associated signs of hyperandrogenism were acne (17.85%), menstrual irregularities (23.8%), androgenic alopecia (21%), acanthosis nigricans (9.45%), Polycystic ovaries were detected in 31.4% patients, luteinizing hormone LH (19%), Follicle-stimulating hormone FSH (3.8%) ,LH/FSH ratio increase in (20%) and 14.28% patients had elevated serum testosterone levels. Family history of hirsutism was present in 33.3% patients Conclusion: This study shows that Hirsutism is a common cosmetic problem in Iraqis women and most patients were considered to be idiopathic followed by familial cases