Open AccessInvestigation of Hirsutism: Testosterone is Not Enough
Author(s) -
G D Carter,
S Holland,
J. Alaghband-Zadeh,
Gerry Rayman,
P Dorrington-Ward,
P. H. Wise
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
annals of clinical biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.6
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1758-1001
pISSN - 0004-5632
DOI - 10.1177/000456328302000502
Subject(s) - sex hormone binding globulin , hirsutism , testosterone (patch) , androgen , androgen excess , free androgen index , endocrinology , medicine , globulin , free testosterone , hormone , polycystic ovary , obesity , insulin resistance
SUMMARY In a consecutive series of 41 hirsute women clinically classified as benign androgen excess, only 34% were found to have elevated plasma ‘total’ testosterone (T), 22% having subnormal sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). When expressed as the ratio T/SHBG (‘free androgen index’), 85% of the patients had values above the normal range. It is concluded that this index is more reliable than total testosterone in assessing androgen status in female patients.