Newswise — WHAT: For several years, irregular menstrual cycles and excessive amounts of male-pattern hair growth (hirsutism) in premenopausal women have been linked to a hormone imbalance that can cause a variety of serious side effects and medical conditions.
Now researchers in reproductive endocrinology are finding that many women with irregular periods and even slight levels of excess hair and/or other subtle changes " slight oiliness of the skin or acne, for instance " have androgen excess. To help provide early diagnosis and treatment, the specialists are beginning to recommend more thorough endocrine examinations for women who have these less obvious but persistent symptoms.
WHO: Available to provide additional information is Ricardo Azziz, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., who holds The Helping Hand of Los Angeles Chair in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he serves as Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Director of the Center for Androgen-Related Disorders. He is a Professor and Vice-Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and a Professor in the Department of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles. He also is Executive Director of the Androgen Excess Society.
WHEN: Dr. Azziz is available immediately.
WHY: Women with androgen excess and related or underlying disorders often live many years without receiving an accurate diagnosis. About 80 percent of women with excessive androgen levels are found to suffer from an endocrine disorder called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). They also often have insulin resistance and are at increased risk for developing Type II diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.
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