Sudden excess tummy hair. Why? So frustrated. Anyone experienced this? What to do?!

[sophieblueskies101]

Hi everyone,

I am a 22 year old woman and since about a year, have had a line of excess hair growth from pubic area up to belly button. It is noticeable and uncharacteristic. I'd never had it before. Started light then grew darker.

I can't bear to remove it as worried it will grow back even thicker. I hate it and am frustrated. I'm too self-conscious for any sexual intimacy now.

I'm otherwise healthy and active. Been on combined pill but it has not effected this in any way. I have no other excess hair/symptoms etc so have pretty much ruled out PCOS. I do suffer from bad acne though.

Has anyone else experienced this? Will it ever go away? Why did it randomly appear then, post-puberty? What can I do?

I don't know what to do. GP seemed nonchalant about it. Shall I request hormone test? Ask to see a gynaecologist? Or who would be the best specialist? I really want to get to root of the problem?

Any advice/experience is so greatly appreciated :( :( xx

Just pluck it

This is extremely common during pregnancy. Could you be pregnant?

You have yourself ruled out PCOS?. I do not think it can be entirely ruled out here, I also note you have acne too.

I would go back to the GP and see another GP too within the practice.

I think you need to determine exactly what is causing both the acne and hirsuitism and it may well be PCOS. It is a very individualistic disorder and does affect each woman with it very differently; what is a problem for one is not for another. The commonality amongst all is the cystic follicles on the ovaries.

Definitely not pregnant

Ok @AttilaTheMeerkat, thanks very much.

I just assumed it wasn't PCOS as periods regular and when had a scan recently for functional ovarian cyst, they didn't detect any others?

My periods have always been 28 days. I had acne (two courses of Roaccutane in my twenties and now treat with Differin gel). Hair appeared on my stomach. My first pregnancy ended in miscarriage. An internal scan showed that I had PCOS.