Epidemiological study on hirsutism in a tertiary care hospital

Introduction: Hirsutism is a condition of unwanted, male-pattern hair growth in women. Aims: 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. Materials and Methods: 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 Results: 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). Conclusion: 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.