hirituism -- hair in all the wrong places

There are a few jokes these days, while somewhat un-PC, are still accepted in our society. People love to make fun of the woman with a beard. She doesn't need to have a full, manly beard like in the picture to the left, but women with wirey hairs growing from their face often have to deal with such 'bearded-lady humor' breaking her heart.

Every morning, I wake up and find thick hairs growing from my chin and my sideburns. Hair on my legs and underarms grows much quicker than it would for the "normal" woman who doesn't have PCOS.

Some people would say, 'well, why don't you just SHAVE that unsightly hair. What's the big deal?'

Shaving makes the hair grow back quicker and more noticeable. Also, shaving causes ingrown hairs, which cause pimple-like bumps on the face.

Instead, women with PCOS often spend their free time plucking stray hairs with tweezers. Waxing is an option, but hairs grow back quickly and the effects don't last for long enough to justify the pain and the cost. Some women try electrolysis or laser hair removal, but due to the high cost of these treatments (without a guarantee they will work, especially for women who have excess male hormones), few of the bearded ladies of the world actually splurge on such a treatment.

Other options include medication and prescription cremes to minimize new follicle growth. A popular drug prescribed for hirituism is Spironolactone, a diuretic and and antiandrogen. Spiro, as it's known by PCOSers, takes a long time to start working, and even when it does "work" it reduces hair growth only minimally.

Certain birth control pills, like Yasmin, are said to help with reducing unwanted hair growth. If that doesn't work, hair-stopping cremes like Vaniqa are prescribed. But these cremes are pricey and (in my experience) not covered by insurance since the medication is for vanity (Is that why they call it Vaniqa?)

Some women chose to explore the herbal supplement route. Saw Palmetto, better known for its use in promoting prostate health for men, is said to work by suppressing the production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) from testosterone, which might help slow hair growth. I'm currently taking a saw palmetto supplement on a daily basis, and I will report back here to let you all know when/if I notice a difference.