What is a Virilized female?

What is a Virilized female?

Virilization is a condition in which women develop male-pattern hair growth and other masculine physical traits. Women with virilization often have an imbalance in their sex hormones, including male sex hormones such as testosterone. Male sex hormones are also known as androgens.

What causes virilization in females?

Virilization is caused by excess production of androgens usually because of a tumor in or enlargement of an adrenal gland or a tumor in an ovary or abnormal hormone production by the ovaries.

What is the difference between masculinization and virilization?

The noun form of “virilize” is “virilization.” “Virilize” and “virilization” are not to be confused with “masculinize” and “masculinization” which refer to the development of male characteristics in a male on a normal schedule during or on a precocious schedule in a younger boy.

Is Virilism genetic?

The most common genetic cause of virilization before and at puberty is congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) (Table 1). In addition, rarer forms of DSD affecting gonadal development and/or sex steroid synthesis and action need to be considered.

What does Virilized mean?

Definition of virilization : the production of male secondary sex characteristics (such as facial hair) in a female also : the masculinization especially of the urogenital tract of a developing female fetus.

How do you treat virilization?

Treatment for Virilization Doctors can treat many cases of virilization, depending on its cause: Tumor or adenoma. Doctors surgically remove tumors from the adrenal glands or ovaries. In many cases, doctors remove the whole adrenal gland that has a growth on it.

What do you mean by adrenal virilism?

Adrenal virilism is a syndrome in which the excessive production of adrenal androgens causes virilization. A clinical diagnosis is confirmed based on elevated androgen levels. The symptoms include excess facial and body hair, deepening of the voice, baldness, acne, and increased muscularity and sex drive (2).

What is virilism?

Definition of virilism : the appearance of male secondary sex characteristics (such as facial hair) in the female.

What causes a woman to be virilized at birth?

Virilization is a condition in which a female develops characteristics associated with male hormones (androgens), or when a newborn has characteristics of male hormone exposure at birth. Virilization may be caused by: Excess testosterone production. Use of anabolic steroids.

What do you mean by virilization in medical terms?

Virilization. Virilization is a condition in which a female develops characteristics associated with male hormones (androgens), or when a newborn has characteristics of male hormone exposure at birth.

When does virilization of a female go away?

Signs of virilization in a female often depend on the level of testosterone in the body. If virilization is caused by exposure to androgens (male hormones) in female adults, many of the symptoms go away when the hormones are stopped. However, deepening of the voice is a permanent effect of exposure to androgens. Gooren LJ.

What are the effects of virilization in children?

Virilization can occur in childhood in both males and females due to excessive amounts of androgens. Typical effects of virilization in children are pubic hair, accelerated growth and bone maturation, increased muscle strength, acne, and adult body odor.

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