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Hirsutism and Virilism in Women

  • Chapter
Gynecologic Endocrinology

Abstract

Virilization represents a natural sequence of events occurring in boys at the time of puberty. This process follows the surge of endogenous testosterone secretion1 and gradually transforms the child into an adult male. Virilization in women is an unnatural occurrence, frequently insidious in onset, usually associated with alarm and fear of societal rejection. The minor signs of virilization include coarse (terminal) body hair, acne, terminal facial hair, and menstrual disturbances (oligo- or amenorrhea). The more severe signs in the spectrum of events include clitorimegaly, shoulder muscle hypertrophy, temporal balding, deepening of the voice, and breast atrophy.2–4 Virilization in women can in most cases be attributed to an overproduction of testosterone.5,6 Figure 23–1 demonstrates a parallel increase in testosterone production rates with progressive signs of virilization. Fortunately, in most women with signs of virilization, testosterone production is only mildly elevated, and clinical symptoms remain in the “minor” categories.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, 07112, USA

    Marvin A. Kirschner

  2. Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Newark, New Jersey, 07112, USA

    Marvin A. Kirschner

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  1. Marvin A. Kirschner
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    Jay J. Gold M.D., F.A.C.P (Clinical Professor of Medicine and Adjunct Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology) (Clinical Professor of Medicine and Adjunct Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology)

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA

    John B. Josimovich M.D. (Professor and Vice-Chairman) (Professor and Vice-Chairman)

  3. Department of Pathology, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA

    John B. Josimovich M.D. (Professor and Vice-Chairman) (Professor and Vice-Chairman)

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© 1987 Plenum Publishing Corporation

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Kirschner, M.A. (1987). Hirsutism and Virilism in Women. In: Gold, J.J., Josimovich, J.B. (eds) Gynecologic Endocrinology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2157-6_23

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2157-6_23

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-9272-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-2157-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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