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Hirsutism - Management
How should I assess the severity of hirsutism?
- Assess the severity of hair growth and the impact on the woman's quality of life, as this may guide treatment.
- Some hair growth in the androgen-dependent areas is normal, and there is no clear cut-off for defining excessive hair growth.
- A subjective approach is generally appropriate in primary care, using the woman's own perception of her condition and the extent it impacts on her quality of life.
- Hirsutism can be more formally evaluated using the Ferriman–Gallwey scoring system; however, this scoring system has several limitations, and is impractical for routine use in clinical practice.
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