Epidemiological study on hirsutism in a tertiary care hospital

Hirsutism is a condition of unwanted, male-pattern hair growth in women

The objective of this study is to assess the severity of hirsutism in the patients attending a tertiary care hospital. It also aims to find out the relation between the grades of hirsutism and the various demographic variables

100 adult females were recruited. Hirsutism was measured quantitatively by modified Ferriman-Gallwey scoring. Other demographic variables like age, religion, education, occupation, family income, family history, marital status were assessed

The mean modified Ferriman-Gallwey scoring was 13.86±4.12. Severe hirsutism (modified Ferriman-Gallwey score ≥15) was seen in 38% of the cases. Severe grade of hirsutism was seen to be higher in females aged greater than 25 than younger women (p=0.009). 23 women were suffering from polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Graduates had exceedingly high degree of hirsutism compared to females who had received primary education (p=0.006). In our study, married women had tremendous amount of hairiness compared to unmarried women (p=0.03). There was also a significant association between the educational status and the hirsutism severity. Working women had a serious amount of hirsutism in contrast to students (p=0.001)

Severe hirsutism was found in 38% of the cases in our study. And an association was seen between hirsutism severity and demographic variables like age, marital status, educational and occupational status.