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Androgen Excess Disorders in Women pp 235–246Cite as

Pediatric Hyperandrogenism and the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Adolescence

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Part of the book series: Contemporary Endocrinology ((COE))

Abstract

Signs of androgen excess in young women, such as hirstutism and acne, are not uncommon. Although causes of hyperandrogenism in young women include congenital adrenal hyperplasia, Cushing’s syndrome, and androgen-producing tumors, the most common cause of androgen excess in this age group is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The same metabolic and endocrine abnormalities seen in adult women with PCOS are also manifest in adolescence. Evidence suggests that PCOS has a perimenarchal onset but may also be linked to endocrine dysfunction prior to adolescence. As in adults, insulin resistance may play a key role in adolescent PCOS. Further investigation of the impact of treatment options in adolescents with PCOS, particularly in the presence of obesity, is needed.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY

    Kathleen M. Hoeger

Authors
  1. Kathleen M. Hoeger
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Androgen Related Disorders, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center; and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Department of Medicine, The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA

    Ricardo Azziz MD, MPH, MBA

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

    John E. Nestler MD

  3. Department of Endocrine Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, Lille University Hospital, Lille, France

    Didier Dewailly MD

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© 2006 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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Hoeger, K.M. (2006). Pediatric Hyperandrogenism and the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Adolescence. In: Azziz, R., Nestler, J.E., Dewailly, D. (eds) Androgen Excess Disorders in Women. Contemporary Endocrinology. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-179-6_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-179-6_21

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-663-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59745-179-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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