Virilization: A common female health condition - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Virilization: A common female health condition

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Virilization in females is a condition in which women develop male-pattern hair growth and other masculine physical traits. Women with virilization often have an imbalance in sex hormones, such as estrogen and male sex hormones, or androgens, like testosterone. – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Virilization: A common female health condition


1
Virilization
  • SYMPTOMS CAUSES TREATMENT DIAGNOSIS

2
What is virilization ?
  • Virilization is a condition that causes a female
    to develop male-pattern hair growth and other
    masculine traits. Women with virilization often
    have an imbalance in the sex hormones oestrogen
    and testosterone.
  • Virilization is caused by an overproduction of
    testosterone or use of anabolic steroids,
    synthetic substances that act like the male
    hormone testosterone.

3
Causes of virilization
  • Any underlying medical condition that causes
    an imbalance in sex hormone levels can result in
    virilization. These conditions are likely to
    cause adrenal hyperplasia, an overproduction of
    hormones in the adrenal cortex. In some cases,
    the overproduction of adrenal hormones is caused
    by an adenoma (cancerous tumour). This type of
    tumour is normally located within the adrenal
    glands.
  • Other causes of virilization include
  • Use of male hormone supplements
  • Use of steroids to increase muscle mass
  • Development of ovarian cysts (normally seen in
    patients with polycystic ovary syndrome)

4
Symptoms of virilization
  • Women with this condition often experience
    male-pattern baldness. They also tend to have an
    eruption of acne on the chest, back, face,
    hairline, underarms and groin.
  • Other symptoms of virilization include
  • Excessive facial hair (normally located on the
    cheeks, chin, and upper lip)
  • Deepening of the voice
  • Increased sex drive
  • Smaller than normal breasts
  • Enlarged clitoris
  • Irregular menstrual cycles

5
Treatment of virilization
  • Removal of an adrenal gland that contains an
    adenoma is the most common treatment for
    virilization. This is normally done surgically.
    However, the doctor may choose chemotherapy or
    radiation treatments if the tumour is in a
    dangerous area or is difficult to reach. These
    therapies help shrink the growth before its
    removed.
  • If a tumour is not the cause, the doctor may
    prescribe oral contraceptives to help balance
    your hormone levels. He or she may prescribe an
    oral contraceptive that blocks your testosterone
    production completely.

6
Diagnosis of virilization
  • The blood sample will be tested for the presence
    of testosterone, oestrogen, progesterone, and
    other hormones. increased level of male sex
    hormones is usually an indication of this
    condition.
  • This test will help determine where the excess
    androgens are coming from. If the doctor suspects
    that they are caused by a cancerous adenoma, he
    or she will perform an imaging test, such as a
    computed tomography (CT) scan. This will allow
    the doctor to view structures within the body in
    detail. Your doctor can determine if abnormal
    growths are present using the imaging scans.
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