hirsutism. definitely a 'hair problem'

[CDS75]

If birth control is going to help (only does in a small percentage of people) it can take a year or more.

If the women in your family do not have the same issues with hirsutism, do not stop trying to get help. Try an endocrinologist (not reproductive).

<BY THE WAY>...your testosterone level changes throughout your cycle. Make sure you get your hormones tested approx 2-2.5 weeks after the beginning of your menstrual cycle. This is when it will be the highest. It will be the lowest when you are on your period - 4 days after. Also- make sure they test your FREE Testosterone and not just serum (or total) testosterone. If that is all normal see my above post.

[EllieFrog]

I was taking bc pills for over two years and didn't really see any difference in hair growth at all.
Nope, women in my family definitely don't have this issue. My mother has hardly any body hair at all. I have no idea what my doctor tested for... he wasn't even sure that he needed to test for anything at first, but than later he called me and tested me for a whole bunch of different hormones and apparently they all came back "normal." So I just gave up since I don't really have anyone to talk to about it and I don't know which doctor to go to.

I also know that I don't have thyroid issues since he tested for that as well and for PCOS. I've never had period issues so I know that's not it. I have no idea... this is frustrating, especially now that it's getting warm out and shaving everything everyday is kinda obnoxious and embarrassing.

[CDS75]

Don't assume that your doctor is on top of everything. Call his office and request your medical records. Then you will have copies of your labs so you know what has been done and what you still may need to check. Have your doctor refer you to an endocrinologist. They deal with endocrine disorders, which hirsutism is a symptom of.

Don't go through your life feeling like you do. It is only going to cause more problems. You are 22 now, but think of the effect this will have on you by the time you are 32. It is a very real problem and you deserve treatment for it.

Try Vaniqua (expensive but worth it). Also, there are some very good electric razors out there now. Pick one up in the mean time and shave the hair off.

[Choice]

Hormone tests being "normal" doesn't mean a lot. What's normal for other woman may not be normal for your body. PCOS can be difficult to diagnose. You can have none of the "normal" PCOS symptoms and still have PCOS. Syndrome X is also something to be considered.

Dr. Geoffrey Redmond is a nationally recognized expert on issues such as this. You may want to check your library for his books. One is called "The Hormonally Vulnerable Woman."

[EllieFrog]

Originally Posted by CDS75

Don't assume that your doctor is on top of everything. Call his office and request your medical records. Then you will have copies of your labs so you know what has been done and what you still may need to check. Have your doctor refer you to an endocrinologist. They deal with endocrine disorders, which hirsutism is a symptom of.

Don't go through your life feeling like you do. It is only going to cause more problems. You are 22 now, but think of the effect this will have on you by the time you are 32. It is a very real problem and you deserve treatment for it.

Try Vaniqua (expensive but worth it). Also, there are some very good electric razors out there now. Pick one up in the mean time and shave the hair off.

I had this stuff tested about 2 years ago. I think it's probably too late now to call him and ask for those records. I don't think that I can afford to go from doctor to doctor, getting everything tested, and hoping that they find something (I'm pretty sure that this kind of stuff isn't covered by my insurance).
I've pretty much learned to live with it since I was 15 so I really don't see very many other options.
As far as Vaniqa goes... I can't afford it, and I've also heard that it's only for the face. I don't have facial hair issues... I mean I do, but the hair on my face is very fine, light, and virtually unnoticable (except in bright/sun light). I don't do anything about it because I figure why make it worse when it's not as bad as it could be. I doubt that it would work on the rest of my body since the rest of my body is also covered in the same type of hair... very fine, blonde, but long (about 1cm). Hair creams wouldn't do much for that.

Also shaving, I don't think I want to shave my entire body every day... or every couple of days. I already shave most of my body and it's extremely time consuming. I don't know... I'll just live with it for now and maybe someday when I have a whole bunch of extra money I'll go see an endocrinologist and see why this is happening.

Thanks!