Androgens are known as male hormones, but women also produce androgens. Androgens serve a number of purposes in women, including playing a role in the manufacture of estrogen, the dominant female hormone. But excess androgen production, the most common endocrine disorder in women, can cause a number of undesirable side effects.
Skin Effects
A large study conducted by Ricardo Azziz, M.D. , director of Cedars-Sinai's Center for Androgen Related Disorders, reported in 2004 that 14 percent of women with an excess of androgens had acne. Oily skin and acne occur because of the enlargement of the oil-producing sebaceous glands. Acne can occur on the upper back and arms, chest, forehead and face.
Hair Effects
An overabundance of androgens can cause hair to grow in typical male patterns. Hair loss or thinning on the head often occurs. Body and facial hair growth increases, particularly in areas where women don't usually grow excess hair, including the upper lip and chin. Excess hair can also grow between the breasts, on the abdomen and inner thighs, reports the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Over 75 percent of women with excess androgen production in the Cedars-Sinai study had hirsutism.
Fertility Effects
Women with polycystic ovary syndrome produce too many androgens, which interferes with their ability to get pregnant. Many women with excess androgens don't produce an egg or ovulate each month, making pregnancy impossible. As many as 82 percent of women in the Cedars-Sinai study with androgen excess had polycystic ovary syndrome, Azziz reported. Around 86 percent had menstrual dysfunction and 88 percent ovulated infrequently. Around 30 percent suffered from infertility.
Obesity
Women with excess androgen levels were twice as likely to be obese as women with normal androgen levels in the Cedars-Sinai study. Excess androgen levels are often associated with insulin resistance, a condition that increases circulating insulin in the blood. Insulin resistance is more common in overweight people and is also associated with type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Virilization
Excessive amounts of androgens can cause virilization in a woman. Typical characteristics include voice deepening, increased muscle mass, enlargement of the Adam's apple and clitoris enlargement. Virilization usually results from an androgen-producing tumor although it can also occur in severe cases of polycystic ovary syndrome, reproductive endocrinologist Michael Birnbaum, M.D. reports on his website, InfertilityPhysician.com
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