Excess coarse, dark hair growth in a male pattern in women, such as on the chin, upper lip, chest, or abdomen.
What “male pattern” means
Everyone has fine hair across the body. Hirsutism refers specifically to hair that becomes coarser, darker, and longer in areas that are usually more prominent in men, such as the chin, upper lip, chest, lower abdomen, and back. This is different from the ordinary fine hair that may increase slightly with age or family background. Doctors sometimes use a visual scoring method to gauge how widespread this hair distribution is, rather than judging from a single area alone.
Why it matters for PCOS
Hirsutism is one of the most commonly noticed features of PCOS, and it usually reflects higher levels or activity of androgens. Androgens are a group of hormones that stimulate hair follicles in certain areas to produce coarser, darker hair. For this reason, hirsutism is one of the clues a doctor weighs when assessing the likelihood of PCOS. For a picture of other features that often appear alongside it, see PCOS symptoms.
Why it is not a diagnosis on its own
Hirsutism is a clue, not confirmation of PCOS. A doctor weighs it alongside your menstrual cycle pattern, hormone blood tests, and sometimes an ultrasound. That is because excess hair growth can also come from family background, certain medicines, or other hormonal conditions unrelated to PCOS. How much hair counts as excess also varies with ethnic background, so an assessment has to take each person’s context into account. A full assessment is therefore needed before linking it to PCOS, as explained in what is PCOS.
When to talk to a doctor
If hair growth appears suddenly, increases quickly, or comes with other fast changes such as a deepening voice, get a doctor’s review early so the cause can be investigated. Changes like these can sometimes point to a need for further checks. Hirsutism can also affect confidence, and that is a valid thing to raise with a doctor too. The options for managing it, whether through skincare, cosmetic, or medical approaches, are best discussed with a doctor or pharmacist based on your own situation.
This glossary is education, not diagnosis. For your own situation, ask a doctor or pharmacist.