Hirsutism

A 19-year-old woman seeks care for slowly progressive hair growth. Since high school, she has shaved her upper lip weekly and waxed her abdomen and thighs monthly. Her menstrual periods are regular. Physical examination is unremarkable except for a body-mass index of 31 and trace hair over the abdomen and thighs, with a moderate amount over her back. There is no clitorimegaly. How should this patient be evaluated and treated? A 19-year-old woman seeks care for slowly progressive hair growth. She has trace hair over the abdomen and thighs, with a moderate amount over her back. How should this patient be evaluated and treated? Foreword This Journal feature begins with a case vignette highlighting a common clinical problem. Evidence supporting various strategies is then presented, followed by a review of formal guidelines, when they exist. The article ends with the author's clinical recommendations. Stage A 19-year-old woman seeks care for slowly progressive hair growth. Since high school, she has shaved her upper lip weekly and waxed her abdomen and thighs monthly. Her menstrual periods are regular. Physical examination is unremarkable except for a body-mass index (the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters) of 31 and trace hair over the abdomen and thighs, with a moderate amount over her back. There is no clitorimegaly. How should this patient be evaluated and treated? The Clinical Problem Physicians' impressions about hirsutism range from considering it simply a cosmetic problem to . . .