Table of Contents
- Overview
- Prevention
- Images
Virilization is when a female develops male sex characteristics, or a newborn boy has increased male characteristics at birth.
Information
Virilization may be caused by:
- Excess
testosterone production - Use of anabolic steroids
In newborn girls, the condition may be caused by:
- Certain medications taken by the mother during pregnancy
-
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia in the baby or her mother - Other medical conditions in the mother (such as tumors of the ovaries or adrenal glands that release male hormones)
Signs of virilization in a female may include:
- Deepening of the voice
- Facial hair
- Increase in body hair
Male-pattern baldness - Swelling of the clitoris
Tests may include:
- Blood tests to detect excess testosterone in females
-
CT scan ,MRI , orultrasound to rule out tumors of the ovaries and adrenal glands
Review Date: 06/28/2011
Reviewed By: Ari S. Eckman, MD, Chief, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and
Metabolism, Trinitas Regional Medical Center, Elizabeth, NJ. Review
provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David
Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
