Question

Which of the following statements about definition of Hirsutism is correct?

• A. Hirsutism is excessive facial hair.
• B. Hirsutism is excessive distribution of facial and body hair in a female distribution pattern.
• C. Hirsutism is excessive distribution of facial and body hair in a male distribution pattern.
• D. Hirsutism is excessive distribution of body hair.

Hint:

The definition hinges on the word "pattern", not just the amount of hair.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

The question checks whether we know the precise definition of hirsutism, since students often confuse it with simply having "too much hair".

1. Excessive facial hair: this only covers the face and leaves out chest, back, and lower belly hair that hirsutism also involves, so it is too narrow.
2. Excessive hair in a female pattern: normal female pattern hair, even if thick, on the scalp, eyebrows, or underarms is not hirsutism, so this definition is wrong.
3. Excessive hair in a male pattern: hirsutism specifically means terminal hair growth in androgen sensitive areas that normally grow hair only in men, like the upper lip, chin, chest, and lower abdomen, in a woman. This matches the medical definition exactly.
4. Excessive body hair: extra hair everywhere on the body without following a male pattern is called hypertrichosis, a separate entity with different causes such as drugs or a general growth of fine hair, not androgen excess.

The correct definition ties hirsutism to a male hair pattern in a woman, driven by androgen action on hair follicles, which rules out the other three choices.

Let's summarize:

• Hirsutism is male pattern terminal hair growth in a woman, not just "more hair".
• Generalized extra hair without a male pattern is hypertrichosis, a different problem.

So the correct statement is that hirsutism is excessive facial and body hair in a male distribution pattern.