Medical history (history of the patient) represents an important component in the diagnosis of hirsutism.
Family history
- Are there any conditions in your family that are common?
Social anamnesis
Current medical history/systemic history (somatic and psychological complaints).
- In which parts of the body is there increased hairiness?
- Sideburns (of the jaw area near the ear), the upper lip and on the chin.
- Upper sternum area
- Around the areolas
- From the navel – pulling in the midline to the pubic hair. In the area of the pubic hair, is there an ideal-typical sharply defined triangular shape or rather a broad rhombus shape?
- Thighs, lower legs, as well as the forearms.
- How long does this hair pattern exist?
- Has the hair pattern changed?
- Is there additional acne or baldness?
- Have other symptoms occurred such as.
- Clitoral hypertrophy (enlargement of the clitoris).
- Alopecia androgenetica (androgenic hair loss).
- Increase in libido
- Masculinization of the body proportions
- Deep voice
Vegetative anamnesis including nutritional anamnesis.
- Are you overweight? Give and please your body weight (in kg) and height (in cm).
- When did you have your first menstrual period?
- Is your menstrual cycle regular? Are there any bleeding irregularities?
Self history including medication history.
- Pre-existing conditions (hormonal imbalances)
- Operations
- Allergies
- Pregnancy
Medication history
- Anabolic steroids – substances that promote the buildup of the body’s own tissues primarily through increased protein biosynthesis (new protein formation)
- Androgens – male sex hormones.
- Anticonceptives (“pill”) with andogenic partial effect.
- Ciclosporin (cyclosporin A) – drug from the group of immunosuppressants.
- Danazol – antigonadotropin leading to reversible inhibition of synthesis and/or secretion of the pituitary gonadotropins LH (luteinizing hormone) and FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone); danazol is used to treat endometriosis (improvement of symptoms such as: Dysmenorrhea (period pain), abdominal pain and dyspareunia, i.e. pain during intercourse).
- Diazoxide – drug used as an antihypertensive (high blood pressure medication).
- Minoxidil – drug which is used for hypertension and alopecia.
- Phenytoin – drug from the group of antiepileptic drugs.
- Progestins – are synthetic substances similar to progesterone (C21- steroids).
- Spironolactone (potassium-sparing diuretic) – drug from the group of diuretics (serves to flush out water).
