Androgen Excess Follow-up

  • Author: Mohamed Yahya Abdel-Rahman, MD, MSc; Chief Editor: Richard Scott Lucidi, MD   more...
 
Updated: Mar 30, 2012
 

Further Outpatient Care

When medical therapy is started, a follow-up visit should be scheduled after 1 month to evaluate the patient for side effects and reinforce the treatment plan. Follow-up thereafter can be every 3-6 months until the patient's condition is stable. Once treatment goals have been achieved, annual visits are appropriate.

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Prognosis

Therapies for most causes of androgen excess are life long. Occasionally, a woman with PCOS-related androgen excess has complete resolution after significant weight reduction. Most women, however, need continued therapy throughout their lifetime to minimize signs and symptoms of androgen excess.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Mohamed Yahya Abdel-Rahman, MD, MSc  Research Fellow, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals, Case Western Reserve University

Mohamed Yahya Abdel-Rahman, MD, MSc is a member of the following medical societies: American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and American Society for Reproductive Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

William W Hurd, MD, MSc  Professor of Reproductive Biology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine; Lilian Hanna Baldwin Chair in Gynecology and Obstetrics, Director, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center

William W Hurd, MD, MSc is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Physician Executives, American College of Surgeons, American Gynecological and Obstetrical Society, American Medical Association, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Society for Gynecologic Investigation, and Society of Reproductive Surgeons

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Richard S Legro, MD  Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Milton S Hershey Medical Center

Richard S Legro, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Endocrine Society, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society of Reproductive Surgeons

Disclosure: Korea National Institute of Health and National Institute of Health (Bethesda, MD) Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Greater Toronto Area Reproductive Medicine Society (Toronto, ON, CA) Honoraria Speaking and teaching; American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (Washington, DC) Honoraria Speaking and teaching; National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology Research Think Tank Panel (Bethesda, MD) Honoraria Speaking and teaching; University of Illinois (Chicago, IL) Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Georgetown University Hospital (Washington, DC) Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Heilongjiang University (Harbin, China) Speaking and teaching; New England Fertility Society (Nashua, NJ) Honoraria Speaking and teaching; William Beaumont Hospital Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (Detroit, MI) Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Wayne State University School of Medicine (Detroit MI) Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Frederick B Gaupp, MD  Consulting Staff, Department of Family Practice, Hancock Medical Center

Frederick B Gaupp, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Family Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Richard Scott Lucidi, MD  Associate Professor of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine

Richard Scott Lucidi, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and American Society for Reproductive Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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Androgen secretion pathway in adrenal glands and ovaries.
Chemical structures of spironolactone and drospirenone. The testosterone core is in black.
Table. Ferriman-Gallwey Scoring System
Body Area EvaluatedScore



(Graded from 0-4*)



Upper lip
Chin
Upper abdomen
Lower abdomen
Upper arm
Thighs
Upper back
Lower back/buttocks
*0 = No hirsutism, 4 = Severe hirsutism
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