boldmaker13 said:I don't know, I have PCOS, there's definitely a genetic component, and maybe my testosterone is just too high, ugh 🙂 🙂
Look, the whole "hand-waving" approach and the "oh, it's just my genetics" attitude isn't really... well, you know... is it? You can only truly make those claims once you are absolutely certain about your clinical status.
Unsure? Then please, make it your mission to find out. Is it a simple ovarian cyst, or is it PCOS? There is actually a significant distinction there that shouldn't be overlooked.
Could it be elevated androgen levels? Or perhaps your follicles are simply more sensitive to androgens? Simply saying "maybe" just doesn't cut it.
Androgenic hair growth—hirsutism, as they call it—is unfortunately often dismissed as merely an aesthetic issue, but it frequently serves as a marker for underlying conditions that could lead to other complications. I won't list them all here to avoid causing unnecessary alarm, but please, go see your primary care physician or your gynecologist. Don't focus solely on how you look; prioritize whether you are healthy—aesthetics are secondary in this equation. Perhaps all that will be required is a lifestyle adjustment—specifically, a healthier diet (primarily avoiding refined carbohydrates and unhealthy fats), managing weight if necessary, and minimizing stress (yes, I am well aware that the latter sounds "easier" said than done!) along with coming to terms with your "genetics."
Therefore, please schedule an ultrasound—yes, again, if that is what it takes. When was your last one? And get a full hormonal panel checked. This shouldn't just cover reproductive hormones (though while you're at it, you should probably check your thyroid levels too); it would also be wise to examine the adrenal glands. They can actually be a primary contributor to hirsutism—unless, of course, you are being overly subjective about the hair growth and your doctor decides, based on your history and physical exam, that testing the adrenals is unnecessary. In some instances, the ovaries themselves might function perfectly fine if the adrenal function is normalized. Check your glucose levels as well. Maybe even an OGTT, though I'm not entirely sure if that's standard protocol right away.
Only after you have those results in hand should you sit down with your gynecologist, endocrinologist, or whoever you end up seeing, to discuss potential therapy (if indicated), the risks involved, and the possible benefits. You see, not all "birth control" options are created equal.
