Virilization is the development of male secondary sex characteristics, but in females it can indicate androgen overexposure and health risks. It can be caused by prenatal exposure, anabolic steroids, or adrenal tumors. Treatment is supervised by an endocrinologist and may involve hormone therapy or surgery.
Virilization is the development of secondary sex characteristics that are usually associated with males, including increased muscle mass, baldness, body hair, a flattened chest, and a deep voice. In male fetuses and developing boys, virilization is a natural process. Secondary sex characteristics that emerge as a result of sexual differentiation cause men in general to look slightly different from women, and in the case of childhood development, virilization is involved in the development of male genitalia, a primary sex characteristic.
In fetuses and females, virilization is usually a cause for concern because it indicates that androgen overexposure is occurring and the patient may be at risk for health problems. There are a number of things that can cause virilization and they can be accompanied by a variety of symptoms. In addition to the developmental changes discussed above, virilization in women also leads to clitoral enlargement.
In infants, prenatal exposure is usually the cause. If a woman takes anabolic steroids during pregnancy or is exposed to other sources of androgens, including endocrine tumors causing her to produce excess androgens, a female fetus may undergo virilization. When male sexual characteristics are noted in a newborn girl soon after birth, it is usually thought to be the result of prenatal exposure. Certain tests may be conducted and treatment may be provided based on the test results.
In girls and women who begin to develop masculine characteristics, virilization can be a result of taking anabolic steroids or it can be caused by an adrenal tumor causing the adrenal gland to start producing excess androgens. In this case, treatment consists of eliminating the source of the excess androgens and allowing the woman’s endocrine system to self-regulate and balance itself. There are also cases where people deliberately induce virilization, as seen among female-to-male transsexuals who want to develop masculine characteristics to feel more comfortable in their bodies.
Treatment for virilization is usually supervised by an endocrinologist. Endocrinologists specialize in hormone disorders and treatments that may require the administration of hormones. They may run tests to check hormone levels and adjust treatment dosages to make sure their patients are being provided appropriate levels of hormones for treatment. If an adrenal tumor is the root cause, a surgeon will also be needed as part of the treatment plan involves removing the tumor so that the patient’s overly enthusiastic adrenal gland stops producing an excess of androgens.
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