Are you a woman with unwanted facial hair? Treatment is easy!

Hirsutism is “excessive male-pattern hair growth in a woman.”  Hirsutism is common, as it affects between 5 and 10 percent of women of reproductive age.  Unwanted hair growth is associated with significant emotional distress and depression.

Why do women get hirsutism?  It is usually an indication of an underlying endocrine disorder, with the most common being polycystic ovarian syndrome. 

What to do? First-line treatment for women with unwanted hair (who are not trying to conceive) are combined oral contraceptives!  This is easy and well-tolerated therapy.  If facial hair does not get better after 6 months, then additional medication (an antiandrogen like spironolactone) can be started. 

Will it get better?  Yes!  But, probably will not completely go away… Reasonable expectations should be discussed. Medication is unlikely to completely eliminate already existing hair growth.  With time, hair may become less coarse, not grow as fast, and/or may require less frequent use of shaving, plucking, or waxing.

What can you do?  Talk to your doctor and they can write for combination oral contraception pills.  If you do not have a doctor, there is an online service, Pandiahealth.com , which links you to a physician who can send you in a years-worth of pills to your door. 

I hope this helps.