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Body Hair Growth in Women

Though every woman has body hair, certain health conditions cause females to grow excess hair. Women suffering from excess hair growth may feel embarrassed or confused about its cause. Luckily, this condition is often treatable.

  1. Definition

    • Excess body hair growth in women is called hirsutism. According to the Mayo Clinic, this term refers to a condition in which a female experiences male-pattern hair growth. This hair is often coarse, pigmented and located in areas like the upper lip, chest, abdomen or back region—essentially areas where men would normally grow hair.

    Causes

    • Often, hirsutism is a result of excess androgens, or male hormones, in the body. For some women, it could result from genetic predisposition. Another common cause of excess hair growth is polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS. (For more information about PCOS, see the Resources section.) Rarer causes of hirsutism include certain tumors, Cushing’s syndrome and certain medications.

    Companion Symptoms

    • Hirsutism is often accompanied by other noticeable conditions, including balding, acne and decreased breast size. These symptoms often appear alongside the excess hair growth because they, too, can result from excess androgen in the body.

    Seeking Help

    • The Mayo Clinic recommends seeing a physician if you observe excess body hair growth in strange places, irregular menstrual cycles, balding or “male features.” This will allow your doctor to check for conditions like PCOS or possibly more serious health problems. However, Dr. Dixie Mills of Women to Women writes that fortunately, excess hair growth is often no more than a “benign annoyance.”

    Medical Treatment

    • There are several medical treatments for hirsutism, which you can discuss with your doctor. These include oral contraceptives (like the birth control pill), anti-androgens (like spironolactone) or even creams (like Eflornithine). Only your doctor can determine which treatment would be most suitable for your specific condition.

    Self Treatment

    • There are also many methods of treating hirsutism on your own, which may vary in success depending on the cause of your excess hair growth. For some women, weight loss can help. Other methods include bleaching hair, shaving, plucking, waxing and electrolysis. Again, however, it is a good idea to contact your doctor if you are experiencing excess hair growth, even if you plan to treat it on your own.

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