Manly hair growth: What's normal?

Hey everyone, I've been wondering... where does it come from when women start seeing those thick, dark hairs in places typically associated with men? I'm talking about things like the chin, upper lip, chest, or even along the stomach and bikini line. If testosterone and all other hormone levels are totally normal, what else could be triggering this?😕

hm...hormones need to be included in the assessment...check ACTH and corticosteroids

Hirsutism. It’s most commonly linked to PCOS, but there are actually about 30 other potential causes out there.
I found this breakdown really helpful and easy to follow:
http://www.femalepatient.com/html/ar.../article02.asp

The main cause of PCOS

But wait, shouldn't testosterone levels be high in that case? 😕

Now, I wouldn't go so far as to call myself a Yeti—though I suppose there is a certain level of androgenic hairiness present—but things are a bit muddled. My ovaries show a micropolyfollicular pattern, yet I haven't actually been diagnosed with PCOS because my hormone panels (both reproductive and thyroid) came back perfectly normal... well, they were perfect during that one specific test, at least. But then again, could my levels be fluctuating wildly? It wouldn't surprise me one bit, considering I've been living under constant, crushing stress for years now. So, I find myself in quite a state of confusion. I think I'll head in to have my cortisol checked next.

It is entirely possible for hormone levels to be perfectly normal while the underlying cause remains unknown...