When this is associated with recession of hairline, deepening of the voice, loss of female body shape, and the development of male pattern pubic hair it is called virulism.
Many women have what they perceive to be excess hair growth.
In reality, the pattern of hair growth may be normal. In normal amounts, androgens cause acne and the appearance of terminal hair on the extremities, armpits and pubic area at the time of puberty. In women with excessive hair growth, the hair follicles are sensitive to androgens which may cause hairs to change from vellus to terminal hairs. Once a vellus hair becomes a terminal hair, it usually does not change back. If a woman s androgen level is very high, she may experience male pattern balding, decreased breast size, and a deepening of her voice.