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What are the symptoms of excess androgens in women?

Dec 03, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Lu
Introduction
When women have excessive androgens, they generally experience symptoms such as hirsutism, worsening acne, menstrual irregularities, hair loss, and deepening of the voice. Androgens stimulate hair follicles, leading to abnormal increases in body hair. This commonly occurs around the upper lip, jawline, areolas, abdomen, and inner thighs, where the hair becomes darker, coarser, and thicker, and grows more rapidly.

When women have excessive androgen levels, they generally experience symptoms such as hirsutism, worsening acne, menstrual irregularities, hair loss, and voice deepening. The details are as follows:

1. Hirsutism: Androgens stimulate hair follicles, leading to abnormal increase in body hair. This commonly occurs around the lips, jawline, areolas, abdomen, and inner thighs. The hair becomes darker, coarser, and thicker, with faster growth, clearly differing from normal female hair distribution.

2. Worsening acne: Excessive androgens promote overactivity of sebaceous glands, resulting in increased sebum production that easily clogs pores and triggers follicular inflammation. This manifests as frequent appearance of comedones, papules, and pustules on the face, chest, and back. Acne tends to recur and is difficult to heal, with more pronounced inflammatory responses compared to common acne.

3. Menstrual irregularities: High androgen levels interfere with normal ovarian endocrine function, affecting follicular development and ovulation. This may lead to prolonged or shortened menstrual cycles, reduced menstrual flow, or even amenorrhea. Some women may also experience worsened dysmenorrhea, and long-term disturbances could impair fertility.

4. Hair loss: Excess androgens affect scalp hair follicles, causing gradual follicular atrophy and thinning, softer hair. It mainly presents as thinning hair on the crown, widening part lines, and in severe cases, noticeable balding areas on the top of the head. However, the hairline is usually preserved, differing from the male pattern of hair loss.

5. Voice deepening: Androgens influence the development of vocal cords in the larynx, causing thickening of the vocal folds. This results in a lower-pitched, rougher voice, with a gradual shift from a delicate tone toward a more masculine quality. This change is typically progressive and may be overlooked or mistaken for throat discomfort.

Upon experiencing the above symptoms, individuals should seek timely medical evaluation of hormone levels to determine the underlying cause. Avoid self-medicating with hormonal drugs. Maintain regular sleep patterns and a light diet in daily life. Follow medical advice for treatment, undergo regular follow-up tests of hormone levels, and monitor symptom improvement.

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