Hirsutism Tests

When you chat with an gynocologist or an endocrinologist about your hirsutism, they will likely test you for the following hormones. Abnormal values in these hormones usually indicate why you have hirsutism and/or other potential health complications. Sometimes, hirsutism can be the least of your worries. Here are the main tests I had done to determine that I did indeed have idiopathic hirsutism when all my blood work returned as normal:

Testosterone, Free and Total: Male hormone produced in the ovaries and adrenal glands. Normal values in a woman are in the neighborhood of  15-75 nanograms per deciliter

Prolactin: Produced in the pituitary gland; the hormone responsible for producing breast milk. Normal values range from 3-30 nanograms per mililiter in non-pregnant women, 15-215 nanograms per mililiter in pregnant females

DHEA Sulfate: a male hormone made in the adrenal glands. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine website, normal values range from the following:

  • Ages 18 – 19: 145 – 395 ug/dL
  • Ages 20 – 29: 65 – 380 ug/dL
  • Ages 30 – 39: 45 – 270 ug/dL
  • Ages 40 – 49: 32 – 240 ug/dL
  • Ages 50 – 59: 26 – 200 ug/dL
  • Ages 60 – 69: 13 – 130 ug/dL
  • Ages 69 and older: 17 – 90 ug/dL

*ug/dL is micrograms per deciliter

LH (Lutenizing Hormone): Lutenizing hormone is made in the pituitary gland and is responsible for bringing about ovulation. 5-30 micrograms per deciliter is a normal range, with the higher range being during a menstrual cycle.

17 Hydroxy Progesterone: A sex hormone made in the adrenal and ovarian glands. A normal value is anything below 200 nanograms per deciliter.

Androstenedione: Another sex hormone made in the adrenal and ovarian glands. This hormone is a “link” to creating estrogen and androgens. I am not certain what normal value ranges are but in mid 2012, my levels were 159 from a standard range of 28-230.

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH): Measures thyroid hormones in the blood. This hormone is made in the pituitary gland. A normal value, depending on your conditions, ranges from .5 to .10 mili international units per liter

Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH): Controls the production of eggs and sperm and is made in the pituitary gland. The U.S. National Library of Medicine website details normal values as the following:

  • During puberty: 0.3 – 10.0 mIU/ml
  • Women who are menstruating: 4.7 – 21.5 mIU/ml
  • Postmenopausal: 25.8 – 134.8 mIU/ml

* mIU/ml is mili international units per mililiter

Any abnormal values could mean a number of more serious conditions including PCOS, Cushing Syndromes and tumors of the adrenal or ovarian glands.

Some great resources for more information about hirsutism and hirsutism blood tests are here:

Medline Plus

WebMD