Hirsutism is a condition that is characterized by excessive, unwanted hair growth in women and this is particularly in areas of the body where typically men grow hair. These areas are typically the back, face and chest. Even though this rarely has any harmful consequences on the functioning of the body of the woman, it can be distressing and has a high chance of impacting a woman’s self esteem and also the quality of life as she has to face criticism from the society. Having hirsutism is actually a sign of an underlying hormonal imbalance and it can also be associated with other health issues. At KD Blossom women and child care hospital which is the best women’s hospital in ahmedabad with the best gynaecologists, we offer comprehensive evaluation and treatment options to manage hirsutism in an effective manner.
An increase in the male hormones called androgens is primarily the cause of hirsutism, androgens are present in the bodies of both men and women. But a hiked level of androgens in a woman’s body can result in various conditions like:
1.Polysystic Ovary Syndrome: PCOS is the most common cause of hirsutism, it leads to hormonal imbalance which inturn causes the ovaries to produce excessive androgens.
2.Adrenal Gland Disorders: An excess production of androgens can also be caused by conditions like congenital adrenal hyperplasia or even due to adrenal tumors.
3.Medications: Certain medications can have these side effects of increasing the androgen levels in women. These medications are anabolic steroids, danazol and some types of birth control pills.
4.Cushing’s Syndrome: Cushing’s syndrome is caused when the pituitary gland releases too much cortisol.this also can cause a spike in the production of androgens
5. Idiopathic Hirsutism: In some cases the reason for hirsutism cannot be identified despite performing the required tests etc. when the cause is identified it is called idiopathic hirsutism.
At KD Blossom Women and Child Care Hospital which, the best gynaecological hospital in Ahmedabad, the diagnosis begins with a thorough and comprehensive medical history and physical examination. The expert gynecologists at the Hospital make sure to assess the pattern and extent of growth of hair and may perform the following tests:
1.Blood Tests: These are basically to test and measure the hormonal levels including majorly test the level of testosterone and other androgens.
2.pelvic ultrasounds: These are solely to check the presence of ovarian cysts which indicate PCOS and as we saw above PCOS is a common cause of Hirsutism.
3.CT Scan or MRI: This is to examine the adrenal glands to check whether there abnormalities of any kind.
4. Other hormonal tests: This is done to rule out the possibility of conditions like Cushing’s syndrome or congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
The major part of treatment of hirsutism involves recognizing the cause that is underlying, symptoms management and improvement of cosmetic appearance. The best women’s hospital in Ahmedabad, KD Blossom Women and Child Care Hospital, provides a range of treatment options that are specifically tailored to the needs of the individual. (The following are general treatment options for educating, we aren’t claiming that we provide each of these treatment options)
1. Medications
2. Lifestyle modification
3. Cosmetic treatments
4. Surgical options
1.Medications: Oral contraceptives, that is birth control pills, have the ability to regulate menstrual cycles and also have the add-on quality of decreasing androgen production which in the longer run reduces hair growth, but these should be consumed only as prescribed by your gynaecologist. Other medications like spironolactone can block androgen receptors and reduce hair growth, these are usually used in combinations with oral contraceptives. Creams like eflornithine can be applied to areas that have been affected, as prescribed by the gynaecologist, to slow down and eventually terminate the hair growth.
2.Lifestyle Modification: In women who have PCOS in general and it is also the cause of hirsutism for them, managing and losing weith for them can be a good way to reduce androgen levels and to add on to this a balanced diet coupled with regular exercise can help regulate hormones and improve overall health.
3.Cosmetic Treatments: Cosmetic treatments like laser hair removal is a long term solution that uses laser technology to destroy hair follicles and this reduces hair growth. To get optimal results for this, multiple sessions are often required. Another method of treatment is electrolysis where electrical currents are used to destroy hair follicles permanently. It is an effective method but can be very time consuming and will definitely require multiple sessions
4.Surgical options: Ovarian drilling, which is a laparoscopic procedure, can be useful to reduce androgen production; it is considered only when other treatments have not been effective. If there is an adrenal tumor which is responsible for excessive androgen production then surgical removal of the tumor may be necessary.
At KD Blossom, with the help of our expert gynaecologists we are committed to providing comprehensive and compassionate care to women suffering from hirsutism.
We have a team of highly qualified gynaecologists who have extensive experience in diagnosing and treating a disorder like hirsutism. We have state of the art facilities with latest diagnostic and treatment technologies ensuring that our patients receive the best possible care.
Our team of top gynaecologists understands that each patient is unique and hence we tailor plans to meet the individual needs of our patients ensuring that our care is more effective and appropriate.
We also offer a pretty holistic approach where we address not only the physical aspects but also the emotional and psychological impact that hirsutism can have on a woman, providing the counselling she needs.
Hirsutism can be a challenging condition to manage, but with the right diagnosis and treatment plan, it is possible to control symptoms and improve quality of life. At KD Blossom Women and Child Care Hospital, the best women's hospital with the best gynecologists in Ahmedabad, we offer comprehensive care and a range of treatment options to help women with hirsutism. Our dedicated team is here to support you every step of the way, providing expert care and compassionate support to help you achieve the best possible outcomes.