Which term describes growth of terminal hair on the body in areas not typically hairy on someone assigned female at birth?

Which term describes growth of terminal hair on the body in areas not typically hairy on someone assigned female at birth?

• A. Hirsutism
• B. Hypertrichosis
• C. Hyperpilosity
• D. Cushing's syndrome

Answer: (A)

Hirsutism is the pattern described: new, coarse terminal hair growing in androgen-sensitive areas where women typically have little or no hair, such as the upper lip, chin, chest, abdomen, back, or thighs. This occurs when there’s excess androgens or increased sensitivity of hair follicles to androgens. Understanding the distinctions helps: hypertrichosis is excessive hair growth in non–androgen-specific patterns and can occur in any area or in both sexes, not tied to androgen activity. Hyperpilosity isn’t a standard clinical term for this pattern. Cushing’s syndrome is a condition that can feature hirsutism among other signs, but the term for the hair-growth pattern itself is hirsutism. In practice, hirsutism often prompts evaluation for hormonal disorders such as PCOS or adrenal causes, and assessment may use scoring systems to gauge the extent of hair growth.

Hirsutism is the pattern described: new, coarse terminal hair growing in androgen-sensitive areas where women typically have little or no hair, such as the upper lip, chin, chest, abdomen, back, or thighs. This occurs when there’s excess androgens or increased sensitivity of hair follicles to androgens.

Understanding the distinctions helps: hypertrichosis is excessive hair growth in non–androgen-specific patterns and can occur in any area or in both sexes, not tied to androgen activity. Hyperpilosity isn’t a standard clinical term for this pattern. Cushing’s syndrome is a condition that can feature hirsutism among other signs, but the term for the hair-growth pattern itself is hirsutism. In practice, hirsutism often prompts evaluation for hormonal disorders such as PCOS or adrenal causes, and assessment may use scoring systems to gauge the extent of hair growth.