Hairiest Woman in the World

[Tweezerqueen]

I feel like the hairiest woman in the world. I seem to be sprouting hair from lots of new places too. It is starting to get me down now. All the doctor recommends is going on the pill and my only other option seems to be laser hair removal which is expensive and i'll practically have to have my whole body done.

Does anybody know of anything that could help? Anybody else having the same problem?

You should ask for a referral to a GYN. You may have PCOS. It's NOT just a disease which has cosmetic ramifications. PCOS can be linked to diabetes and increased risk of heart disease, so should be checked out when a patient presents with sudden body hair growth, particularly facial.

My only advice is don't shave it! I don't know how hairy you are, but for me personally, a few years ago I started getting the odd one or two in places where there should be none. I think it started just after I stopped having the contraceptive injection, and before that I had been on the pill for years. I also get loads of spots now when I never used to. I hadn't thought about going back on the pill to stop it until I read your message - maybe I ought to consider it.

Sorry I can't think of any alternative that might help,

FBB

Getting loads of spots and lots of hair needs to be checked out.

This could indicate a hormonal imbalance and all the Pill does is mask it.

I've made another appointment with the doctor today as I'm also getting lots of spots that I've never had before. Mostly around my chin and forehead. I have to say I'm not feeling that attractive at the moment and it is starting to affect my confidence, particularly at work.

Hirsutism is of cosmetic and psychological concern but can indicate more serious associations.
Hirsutism is a known symptom of PCOS and obesity amongst other things.
Treatments can include oral contraceptives, spironolactone, flutamide and metformin.
When spironolactone (Aldactone) is prescribed to suppress hair growth, 70% of patients experience improvement within six months.
A prescription cream that stops facial hair growth, Vaniqa (pronounced Van-ih-KA) is also available. Studies show it helps most women and has no major side effects.

check out this link

HTH

I would agree with the others who have mentioned polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

The pill will serve to mask the symptoms of the underlying problem if this is PCOS (which I have to say is likely).

You need to be tested to see if you have this condition with blood tests and ultrasounds. Do not be fobbed off by your GP. PCOS is a very individualistic disorder and affects each woman with it very differently.

Verity is a good UK based website re PCOS and I would suggest you have a look at it - its www.verity-pcos.org.uk.

attila, can i ask you a question please?

would you say (hopefully it's not too sweeping a generalisation) that the appearance of hairs in previously unhairy places, ie a few on the chin, a few dark ones aroudn the nipple, indicates a hormonal problem and secondly if so, is it usually pcos related?

i do realise those are v wide questions but just wondered if it seems to be the case. i always had a couple of hairs on eahc nipple, v light, but now there are ones which seem to appear in 2nd half of the month - black and quite wiry / shiny (glossy?) - i dont' have black hair.. and then a couple of ones on the chin..

i can't take the pill (previous dvt) and am ttc - was diagnosed with mild pcos when i was about 22 - but a recent scan didn't show anything more than 2 or 3 tiny cysts on each ovary..

incidentally the hairs on my legs seem to be in random growht spurts - some patchs of skin are v quick to grow, others stay hairfree. i have a few black hairs on my toes too. and the hair on my head is quite sparse around the hairline at top ie fringe area. looks almost receding.

god i sound grim &* sorry for hijack

bump - atila, just wanted to pick your brains. grateful for your advice if you have a sec = thanks

Hi Sparklybits,

Have just seen your message.

What you write is very interesting. I was provisionally diagnosed with PCOS a few years back by the subfertility nurse on the basis of my irregular periods and a few hairs around my areolas (nipple area). She asked me if I had any stray hairs on my chest. I was officially diagnosed with PCOS at a later date once the bloodwork came back. I would say that such hairs would indicate a degree of hirsuitism and thus a hormonal imbalance (PCOS yet again is to blame here). Also some women with PCOS do report some hair loss (its all interconnected to PCOS).

PCOS is a very individualistic disorder and does therefore affect each woman with it very differently.

The cystic follicles associated with PCOS are very small and it can take a skilled operator to spot them. These cystic follicles do disappear - only to be replaced by further cystic follicles. Some of these follicles may contain an egg, others are dormant and yet more release hormones.

As you have been given a previous PCOS diagnosis you ought to be under the care of a gynae at a subfertility unit if you are not already.

Verity is a very good UK based website re PCOS and I would suggest you take a look at it - its www.verity-pcos.org.uk.

HTH, any further questions just ask

With best wishes

Attila

"black and quite wiry / shiny"

My hairs were just like this as well.

attila, thanks SO much. am glad i mentioned the black and shiny thing. lovely

will go to docs. i mentioned this to her before but agreed to give ttc a go which she said would be incompatible with treatment for pcos. but i'll plump to resolve it..

i have to pluck one black hair from the chest about once a month

eyebrows are shiny course hairs too.

thanks again, i've dippedin and out of verity and will have a proper look

much appreciated

just reading your post intreasting as im abit hairy too.i have hairs on my breast that i have to pluck they are thick and black very enbarrsing for me.

hi i also have noticed since having dd that i have started getting hairs on my breats around the nipple area (coarse noticable ones)

and also around my chin and mouth area and they seem to be growing a lot quicker than they were before

what are the other symtons of pcos because i haven't been to the docs as i did think it was my hormones

is pcos linked to finding it hard to concieve etc as it took well over a year to fall on with dd and am only 26 fairly healthy etc

same here i have been ttc for a year now. but my hairs started as when i was young shaving the little lights hairs that most people have but now its really bad.when i was pregnant with my first they never ap till i gave birth then they came bk again strange init.