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- Writer, Aisha Idris
- Name the person who wrote the story, BBC News, Abuja
While naturally only men are known to have beard, mouth or chest hair, sometimes there are a few women who have similar hair.
This has caused some people to ask the question whether male hair growth on the face or other parts of a woman’s body is a problem, or is it just natural?
This is why the BBC contacted Dr Sadiya Musa Gwadabe, a specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Illorin Teaching Hospital in Kwara State to find out more.
Why does this type of hair appear in some women?
According to Dr. Sadiya, the reason why some women have hair loss in areas that are usually known to men is that it happens when there is a chemical called Androgen which is also called Testosterone is too much in the body. woman.
“Both women and men have this substance. But men have more than women, that’s why when this testosterone is too much in a woman’s body, hair appears in places like men, such as in the beard, or around the mouth. , or the chest, or in the stomach and other places,” according to the doctor.
The condition is called Hirsutism in Turkish.
Is it a disease or not?
It depends on where the hair comes from.
The doctor said that the growth of hair on the face and some parts of the body is not painful, while in others it is painful.
“The reason why I say this is that sometimes when some women with this type of hair are examined, no reason is found, this kind of condition is called Idiopathic – that is, the reason for the hair growth is lost,” said the doctor.
However, there is a reason for this happening in the case of some women like this:
- The problem of failure to release eggs, where some women will face the problem of getting pregnant early.
- The follicles can be cancer that is cancer in the area that causes the hair to fall out. Sometimes there are pregnant women who will see this happening to them.
- And the women don’t have their periods regularly. They don’t bleed for three months or more.
- Then you will see the hair coming out of their faces.
What causes Hirsutism?
According to the doctor, there is a disease called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (POS).
“If a woman has a problem with her ovaries that produce eggs every month – from which she gets her period – if she doesn’t get pregnant, she may have a problem.
“That’s why if a woman has this problem, she can grow hair on her face, stomach or chest.”
How can a woman know she has Hirsutism?
Dr. Sadiya explained that women with this condition face not seeing their periods every month.
“Some women may take up to three months, some even up to six months, before they see their period or it will begin to come and decrease little by little until it stops.
“If you ask those who have this problem, they will tell you that the hair is growing on their face. Then if you look at their body, you will see that they have hair in their stomachs like men grow.
“And when they are scanned, it will be seen that there are many eggs in this nest that have not yet shown. These are among the signs of this necessity that can be seen.”
About how to diagnose the disease, Dr Sadiya said:
Testosterone is tested when a woman has facial hair. If it is less than 200, then it is known that she does not have cancer. .
“There are other tests that can be done to diagnose POS. Some more tests can be done to identify the real problem.”
Side effects of POS disease
For a woman who is not married, her period will play tricks on her – that is, she will not see her period every month, or it will come to her less and less, said Dr Sadiya.
“Sometimes, if the woman is asked, she will say that he is gone and she has not seen him since three months ago.”
“For women who are married and intend to get pregnant, it will sometimes be seen that they face delays, so they must be given medicines before they get pregnant.”
Is it necessary to treat?
The answer to this question also depends on what caused the problem.
Dr Sadiya said: “If there is nothing to bring it, sometimes they are advised to remove the hair. And if we know what caused it, we can give medicine that will reduce it, or treat what caused it.”
