What is Causing My Facial Hair?
Question
I am 22 years old. I started noticing facial hair when I was 16. It was thin and willowy and I waxed it. After that, however, it came back thicker and has been coming back ever since. My period for the most part is always regular, but about once a year something happens, and I won’t get my period for two months at a time. I had a physical exam, and I don’t have Polycystic ovary syndrome. Can you give me a clue as to what is wrong? Thank you.
Answer
Last Updated: August 27, 2023
The most common cause of abnormal periods and increased facial hair is polycystic ovarian syndrome. The ovaries often have small cysts detected by ultrasound, but not always. Often these cysts on the ovaries cannot be felt by the physical exam. Some lab test can help support the diagnosis, such as an LH/FSH ratio greater than 2. Another possibility is genetic predisposition to facial hair, along with increased stress at the time of the missed periods. Did your mother have increased facial hair?
If you start having more irregular periods, you may want to go back to your doctor for further testing. Maintaining ideal body weight and getting a reasonable amount of exercise can help with some of the symptoms.
Sincerely,
Lynn Keenan, MD
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