Excessive or unwanted hair in women

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Ovarian cysts

Overproductive ovaries

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If a tumor is suspected, x-ray tests such as a CT scan or ultrasound may be recommended.

Medications or other treatments your doctor may prescribe include:

• Birth control pills. It may take several months to begin noticing a difference.
• Anti-androgen medications such as spironolactone may be tried if birth control pills do not work. There is a risk of birth defects if you become pregnant while taking these medicines.
• Hair removal using laser and nonlaser light sources damage individual hair follicles so they do not grow back. This is expensive and multiple treatments are needed. You may get a topical (applied to the skin) medicine called eflomithine during these treatments.

Review Date: 09/02/2009
Reviewed By: Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Redmond, Washington; Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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