ABSTRACT
Hirsutism, menstrual disorders, acne, and chronic anovulation are symptoms typically associated with disorders affecting androgen secretion and metabolism in adolescent girls (Table 1). In prepubertal children, androgen excess is associated with premature pubarche, which is defined as the development of pubic hair, axillary hair, acne, and/or adult-type apocrine odor earlier than eight years in girls and nine years in boys. Hyperandrogenemia is generally due to excessive androgen secretion by the adrenal cortex, ovaries, or testes. Additional manifestations of hyperandrogenemia include menstrual disorders, clitoral enlargement, masculine body habitus, male-pattern baldness, voice changes, and breast atrophy. The magnitude of the clinical features of androgen excess does not always correlate with circulating androgen concentrations.
