What are my treatment options for severe hirsutism in Singapore?

Doctor's Answer

Photo of Dr Abel Soh
Dr Abel Soh

Endocrinologist

Hirsutism is excessive male-pattern hair growth. The excessive hair growth can occur in the upper lip, chin, midline chest, upper abdomen, limbs, or back. It can be associated with acne and/or male-pattern balding. We usually assess the severity of hirsutism using a clinical score.

The most common cause of hirsutism in a premenopausal woman like yourself is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). There are also other less common hormonal causes of hirsutism. Some drugs may result in hirsutism as well.

I would recommend that you get seen by a doctor to assess the severity of your hirsutism. Tests will need to be done to exclude PCOS and other hormonal causes of hirsutism before we can discuss treatment options.

Treatment for hirsutism includes:

  • Treating the underlying cause
  • Cosmetic hair removal methods (for example, shaving, plucking, waxing)
  • Drug therapy

Drug treatment involves the use of medications that can regulate the female hormones and/or reduce the effects of male hormone (testosterone) in the body. Drug therapy can provide more lasting improvement in women with moderate to severe hirsutism.

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