One a side note - I am *this* close to getting my insurance to cover facial hair removal. I was hoping for worse lab results to justify the hair, but I am still keeping my fingers crossed
__________________ Jill, Met (2000mg) & Spiro (100mg)
Anna (7), 100mg Clomid
Lane (5), 100mg Clomid & 30mg Actos
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One a side note - I am *this* close to getting my insurance to cover facial hair removal. I was hoping for worse lab results to justify the hair, but I am still keeping my fingers crossed
Are your ring fingers longer than your index fingers?
If my testosterone levels are "normal," why do I still have so much facial hair?
Quote:
Originally Posted by SPCnut
LOL -yes quite a bit, why?
That's probably the answer to your question. If your ring fingers are signficantly longer than your index fingers it's a clear sign that you've been exposed in the early weeks after conception to very high levels of testosterone. That may have come about from something in your mother or affecting your mother, or it may have come about from something in your own body. If your ring fingers are longer than your index fingers (the typical male pattern -- females are normally the other way round) it's an indication that you were exposed to testosterone levels the same as those working on most males and the effect was to sensitize your skin so that it would be capable of responding to testosterone in future in the sort of way that's normal for males.
The result is that even perfectly normal "female" levels of testosterone in later life can produce signficant moustache and beard growth where the skin has been sensitized in early fetal life to respond readily to testosterone stimulation in later life. On the other hand, even women who have male levels of testosterone in later life but whose skin wasn not sensitized in the early stages of fetal development won't develop moustache or beard growth.
Remember too, of course, that there are questions about the balance between estrogen and testosterone in later life that are very relevant in this matter.
Look on the positive side of it -- women who have early fetal exposure to high levels of testosterone tend to have thought patterns that are very similar to those of males and so usually have a very good physical relationship with their husbands.
I too have "normal" levels but still have the excess hair. I talked to my doctor about the finger thing because my index finger is the same length as my ring finger, but she doesn't believe that study covers ALL cases of women who are dealing with hirsuitism, only some.
She doesn't have any answers for me yet, but she's doing some researching!
I Have Too Much Hair But My Hormone Tests Are Normal – How Can This Be?
Many of the women I see in my practice for increased hair growth have normal hormone levels; they, and often their doctors, find this baffling. If your testosterone is normal, but you shave daily, does this mean that hormones are not involved? This question is one I am asked over and over. The answer is clearly “no.”
Hirsutism is always due to testosterone stimulating the hair follicles. Why then do many women with hirsutism have normal levels of this hormone?
The answer is that some people have hair follicles which are extremely sensitive to testosterone. Think about body hair on men. Some have a little and others have a lot even though their testosterone levels are similar.
In women the situation is the same; whatever their testosterone levels, those with more sensitive follicles have more hair. Hair follicle sensitivity to testosterone is the single most important factor in increased hair growth. As I will discuss below, hair follicle sensitivity is highly treatable.
Some women have the opposite situation: hair follicles which are insensitive to testosterone and so have hardly any body hair. This is usual in Asians but is uncommon in whites or blacks.
Lab tests are important in medical evaluation of hirsutism but they have their limitations, too. The laboratory does not tell us what is wrong with someone, rather it aids in doing so. Tests are ordered when there are symptoms or other reasons to suspect a disease. But a negative test does not mean there is no problem, simply that the test has failed to tell us the cause.
Wow - thanks for the info! Now I "get it" Hopefully the dr. at my insurance co. will know this much so he/she will agree to paying for my laser hair removal.
Thanks
__________________ Jill, Met (2000mg) & Spiro (100mg)
Anna (7), 100mg Clomid
Lane (5), 100mg Clomid & 30mg Actos
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I have the same thing, my dr said that some people are just more sensitive to testosterone and so normal levels can seem like a lot.
I havn't seen any reputable info about the finger length explination. does anyone have a link to a scientific study on it? It sounds like a myth to me.
If my testosterone levels are "normal," why do I still have so much facial hair?
Quote:
Originally Posted by vancouverNicole
I have the same thing, my dr said that some people are just more sensitive to testosterone and so normal levels can seem like a lot.
I havn't seen any reputable info about the finger length explination. does anyone have a link to a scientific study on it? It sounds like a myth to me.
Do a google search on "digit ratio" and you should find plenty.
Your doctor's right insofar as some people are just more sensitive to testosterone. One reason that they're more sensitive relates to early fetal exposure to testosterone so sensitzing them to respond readily to testosterone in later life.
If my testosterone levels are "normal," why do I still have so much facial hair?
Quote:
Originally Posted by sleepydumpling
I too have "normal" levels but still have the excess hair. I talked to my doctor about the finger thing because my index finger is the same length as my ring finger, but she doesn't believe that study covers ALL cases of women who are dealing with hirsuitism, only some.
She doesn't have any answers for me yet, but she's doing some researching!
Your doctor's right -- digit ratio doesn't explain all cases of women who are dealing with hirsutism but it may provide PART of the explanation for women whose ring fingers are LONGER than their index fingers.
If my Testosterone levels are "normal", why do I still have so much facial hair? 
