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Evaluation and Treatment of Hirsutism in Premenopausal Women: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline

Martin KA, Anderson RR, Chang RJ, Ehrmann DA, Lobo RA, Murad MH, Pugeat MM, Rosenfield RL

The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2018

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To update the "Evaluation and Treatment of Hirsutism in Premenopausal Women: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline," published by the Endocrine Society in 2008.

PARTICIPANTS: The participants include an Endocrine Society-appointed task force of seven medical experts and a methodologist.

EVIDENCE: This evidence-based guideline was developed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system to describe the strength of recommendations and the quality of evidence. The task force commissioned two systematic reviews and used the best available evidence from other published systematic reviews and individual studies.

CONSENSUS PROCESS: Group meetings, conference calls, and e-mail communications facilitated consensus development. Endocrine Society committees, members, and cosponsoring organizations reviewed and commented on preliminary drafts of the guidelines.

CONCLUSION: We suggest testing for elevated androgen levels in all women with an abnormal hirsutism score. We suggest against testing for elevated androgen levels in eumenorrheic women with unwanted local hair growth (i.e., in the absence of an abnormal hirsutism score). For most women with patient-important hirsutism despite cosmetic measures (shaving, plucking, waxing), we suggest starting with pharmacological therapy and adding direct hair removal methods (electrolysis, photoepilation) for those who desire additional cosmetic benefit. For women with mild hirsutism and…

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