Dark, coarse hair growth on a woman's face often points to the presence of excessive amounts of male hormones, or androgens, in the body. Approximately half of all women who possess unwanted facial hair have increased levels of androgens coursing through their bloodstream, according to MayoClinic.com. Although there are many things that can increase male hormone levels in a woman, the most common cause is polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS.
Considerations
PCOS affects between one and two women out of every 20 women of childbearing age in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In addition to high androgen levels, women with the condition often develop cysts on their ovaries and miss their periods. Many have trouble conceiving.
Symptoms
In addition to unwanted facial hair, women with PCOS can have other symptoms as well, including infertility, irregular menses, ovarian cysts, skin problems, weight gain, hair thinning or baldness, thick patches of skin, skin tags, sleep apnea, anxiety or depression, and pain in the lower abdominal region, notes WomensHealth.gov.
Causes
Doctors and researchers are still unclear as to what exactly causes PCOS. The condition seems to run in families, meaning that women are more susceptible to the condition if their mother or sister has it. The ovaries of women with the condition also tend to produce more androgens than necessary. Insulin may also play a role as many women with PCOS have too much of it, notes WomensHealth.gov.
Treatments
Treatments for PCOS seek to decrease androgens. Oral contraceptives containing the female hormones estrogen and progesterone help counteract male hormones and introduce more female hormones into the body. A medication called spironolactone, blocks the production of androgens, while cyproterone acetate prevents the body from using male hormones, according to DermNet NZ.
Since none of these treatment options has the power to remove or reverse hair growth, they're often used in conjunction with hair-removal methods. Creams to slow or reduce hair growth may also be used topically along with oral medications and cosmetic procedures.
Psychological Burden
After conducting a study involving women with PCOS, the Department of Primary Care and Population Studies at the University College Medical School in London concluded that women with facial hair carry a psychological burden, reports PubMed.gov.
The study, published in the August, 2006 issue of "Journal of Psychosomatic Research," found that facial hair caused self-esteem issues, anxiety and depression. Nearly half the women studied admitted to feeling self-conscious in social settings.
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