Hyperandrogenism in women with PCOS: symptoms, causes, treatment


Androgyny is the fusion of feminine and masculine traits in one image. A classic from modern pop culture - Marilyn Manson. Not the best example, right? But he entered the history of music. Androgynous models of the early 2000s really spoiled the blood of girls of the same time. Popular images conveyed a complete rejection of feminine traits, a generation lost weight, and eating disorders flourished.

Nowadays, another facet of androgyny has appeared: sophisticated young men who do not want to play sports at all, and girls who have long ago crossed the line of health concerns and are manically building muscle mass. Both are the norm, by the way. Androgyny is more of a cultural phenomenon.

Androgyny in history

Where did the idea come from that one person can combine both masculine and feminine principles? Androgyny has been quite a popular thing in history. The world learned about it when ancient Greek tragedies appeared. Yes, the beautiful Artemis and the no less sophisticated Aphrodite were played by simple Greek youths. They were often supported by rich Greek men.

Many combined a craving for same-sex love and an appropriate appearance. A little later, a hidden battle of women for equality began. Do you want to go on a trip? Be kind enough to put on male armor and pretend to be a guy, otherwise nothing will work out for you. You can't go further than the castle gates.

Then it became even more interesting. The girls wanted to study, work, and be full members of society. But they could only be mistresses, wives, well, in extreme cases, theater actresses or ballerinas. But this was very much discouraged. It was possible to obtain a “position” in the feudal hierarchy only if the husbands died happily, the brothers were killed in the war, and the son was still a child and could not yet inherit.

Androgyny migrated to science and art:

  • Scientific works were published under male pseudonyms;
  • Works of art were also exhibited;
  • It was also easier to write a book if you were a man

At the beginning of the 20th century, androgyny gradually acquired a sexual aspect, closely penetrating the culture of the era of decadence. Refined ladies in men's suits, short haircuts, bowler hats, cigarettes in cigarette holders have forever entered the history of fashion too.

Andrey Pejic

Andrey Pejic

What is androgynous style?

This is a popular fashion trend. It is based on the subconscious desire of modern women to be strong and self-sufficient on an equal basis with men. This lifestyle presupposes some brutality in the behavior of the weaker sex and the use of elements of a man’s wardrobe.

Andrej Pejic and Freya Behi Eriksen are considered prominent representatives of androgynous fashion, who radically changed the women's wardrobe on a masculine basis.

Today, this fashion trend is still relevant for business women, and design houses create entire collections of clothing to please them.

This style is similar to oversized. The same volume of the models, as if borrowed from men, stable shoes - all this creates the combination of unique style, coziness and comfort that a woman needs so much.

The apparent simplicity attracts one with its subtle harmony of minimalism, monochrome and laconicism.

To create intriguing stylish looks, it is best for girls to use individual androgynous elements without overusing the piquancy of the images.

Androgyny in fashion2

Fashion does not use this concept. She is for unisex. It is generally accepted that unisex is an invention of the early 90s of the last century, but this is not so. The first images of “ala garçon” appeared in the 20s of the 20th century, along with the popularization of short women’s bob haircuts, by the way. Women in men's suits, coats and flat shoes can be seen not only in daggerotypes of the time, but also in early motion pictures. But it's more of a cross-dressing story.

The men's suit in fashion has popped up more than once. But the image of the “tomboy” is really a legacy of the early 90s. Or more precisely, the late 80s. Remember the immortal series “Wild Rose” and the heroine’s clothes. Many girls of the early 90s dressed exactly like this - an oversized sweatshirt, a backwards baseball cap and jeans not “whatever you want”, but “whatever you can find or borrow from your older brother.” Sneakers went with this splendor. Despite all this, the girls remained girls. They did not strive to build strong same-sex relationships, and did not show themselves as “rights fighters.”

Unisex clothing is simply more convenient for large families, where everyone wears after everyone else, and looks normal on almost any figure. At the same time, feminist slogans penetrated pop culture, and girls became who they wanted, and not “dolls” in beautiful clothes.

Hyperandrogenism during pregnancy

Among all the possible causes of spontaneous abortion in a pregnant woman in the first trimester, hyperandrogenism occupies a leading position. Unfortunately, when detecting signs of hyperandrogenism in a woman during an existing pregnancy, it is extremely difficult to determine whether this pathology is congenital or acquired. In this period, determining the genesis of the disease is not so important, since it is necessary to take all measures to maintain pregnancy as a priority.

The phenotypic signs of hyperandrogenism in a pregnant woman are no different from the manifestations of this pathological condition in any other female, with the only difference being that in some situations hyperandrogenism manifests itself in the form of early termination of pregnancy, which is not always regarded by the woman as a miscarriage. The development of spontaneous miscarriage in the early stages is due to insufficient attachment of the fertilized egg to the wall of the uterus and its rejection even with the slightest traumatic influence. A striking clinical manifestation of this condition is the detection of vaginal bleeding, which, by the way, may not be so intense, nagging pain in the suprapubic region and leveling of signs of early toxicosis.

After the 14th week of pregnancy, physiological conditions are created to prevent abortion, since during this period there is an increase in the activity of female sex hormones secreted by the placenta in large quantities.

Another critical period for the threat of miscarriage in a woman suffering from hyperandrogenism is the 20th week of pregnancy, when there is an active release of dehydroepiandrosterone by the fetal adrenal glands, which inevitably provokes increased androgenization of the pregnant woman. A complication of these pathological changes is the development of signs of isthmic-cervical insufficiency, which can provoke the onset of premature delivery. In the third trimester of pregnancy, hyperandrogenism provokes early rupture of amniotic fluid, as a result of which a woman can give birth ahead of schedule.

To determine hyperandrogenism in a pregnant woman, it is advisable to use only laboratory diagnostic methods, which are fundamentally different from the examination of the rest of the category of patients. In order to determine the concentration of male sex hormones, it is necessary to examine the urine of a pregnant woman to determine the “sum of 17-ketosteroids.”

It should be borne in mind that not all cases of detection of signs of hyperandrogenism in a pregnant woman should be subject to drug correction, even if the diagnosis is confirmed by laboratory methods. Drug therapy is used only if there is a threat to pregnancy. The drug of choice for the treatment of hyperandrogenism during pregnancy is Dexamethasone, the initial daily dose of which is ¼ tablet, the action of which is aimed at inhibiting the function of the pituitary gland, which has an indirect effect on the production of male sex hormones. The use of this drug is justified by the complete absence of a negative effect on the development of the fetus with a simultaneous positive effect in terms of leveling the signs of hyperandrogenism.

In the postpartum period, women suffering from hyperandrogenism must be under the supervision of not only a gynecologist, but also an endocrinologist, since this pathological condition tends to progress and provoke serious complications.

Why don't they want to look like women?3

David Chang

David Chang

Androgyny as a mass cultural phenomenon came to us with the model aesthetics of the 2000s. Today such models are already a rarity, but at that time extremely thin girls without breasts, buttocks or hips reigned in magazines. They were contemptuously called “hangers” by ordinary people, but young girls aspired to be like them.

By the way, in our country the cult of extreme thinness has not gone away. True, modern skinny women can no longer be called androgynous. Instead of a small layer of fat that is quite natural for the female body, they “pump” fillers into the face, pump up the lips and make large artificial breasts and buttocks. But the legs and arms among celebrities who are not friends with sports in fashion are still thin.

Models of the 2000s are a real anti-fetish in the female community, and the reason for a lot of cultural protests:

  • The body positivity movement, which accepts any body, thin, fat, athletic, did not really begin as a protest against mass anorexia among teenage girls;
  • There is a fashion for plus-size models, that is, plump, well-groomed women who demonstrate soft, curvy figures;
  • Several laws prohibiting hiring models that are too thin;
  • A fitness trend that aims to make women healthy, not skinny and boyish.

Yana Knauerova

Yana Knauerova

Characteristic

There are both positive and negative traits. The positive ones include:

  • the ability to adapt to any social circle;
  • lability of the human psyche;
  • the opportunity to demonstrate your sensuality, as well as emotionality;
  • In an intimate sense, a person becomes liberated.

Negative ones include:

  • difficult relationships with adherents of standard views;
  • difficulties in building relationships with the opposite sex; not every man wants to see a strong, masculine woman next to him;
  • The androgyne may not be perceived by society as a full-fledged person.

Signs of androgyny in men may be as follows:

  • using makeup that gives femininity;
  • wearing clothes of a style and color that makes it impossible to determine gender;
  • shoulder length hair and below;
  • thin build;
  • the presence of soft gestures.

Androgyny as a physiological deviation4

There are cases when a person develops both male and female genital organs from the moment of intrauterine development. Such people become a boy or a girl “according to the passport” based on the dominant appearance of the external genitalia.

In our country it is not customary to ask them what gender they would like to be. Typically, doctors “leave” the sex of the hermaphrodite that is most dominant in its hormonal status. All “excess” is removed surgically.

Although no one can force a person to undergo surgery, or force him to choose his gender. Such a person can live in the form in which nature created him and determine his gender independently.

Science considers hermaphroditism a genetic mutation. Nowadays, in civilized countries this is not a problem, but in patriarchal countries it can be a real reason for persecution.

Kristina Salinovich

Kristina Salinovich

Causes of hyperandrogenism in women

Hormonal imbalance is observed in various pathologies of the endocrine system. An increase in androgen levels in women accompanies pathologies of the adrenal glands, pituitary gland and ovaries. The most common provocateurs of hyperandrogenism:

  • Itsenko-Cushing syndrome;
  • hereditary pathologies in the functioning of the adrenal cortex;
  • tumor formations on the ovaries and adrenal glands;
  • polycystic ovary syndrome.

In diseases of the adrenal glands, excessive amounts of glucocorticoids are produced, which, with a lack of cortisol, are converted into androgens. In tumor and cystic processes, male hormones, as a rule, are directly produced by neoplasm cells. The larger the tumor, the higher the concentration of androgens in the woman’s blood.

Gender roles, their importance and difference5

If we think from the perspective of human rights, absolutely everyone is equal. Even if someone expresses themselves by dressing as androgynous or positioning themselves as a person of the opposite sex, there is no problem for the exercise of rights in this case.

Now let's fast forward to reality. Besides an alternative model, a bartender, an artist, or a remote worker in the digital industry, what kind of work can an androgyne do? If we are talking about a woman, the problems are even greater:

  • Enforcing dress codes for office jobs is difficult. Of course, such a girl can put on tights and a skirt, but the image will be lost;
  • There will be little understanding when working with people. It’s one thing if a person who is different from everyone else works, for example, in a fashionable coffee shop or tattoo parlor. And it’s completely different if at the post office, social security, or grocery store;
  • Categorical rejection by some segments of the population. Yes, we are talking about aggressive, poorly educated lumpen people who, with their entire appearance, show what a “real man” should look like.

A person who refuses gender identification will have a difficult time. In fact, his choice is small - art, culture, alternative fashion, digital or work in some fashionable establishment.

Important details of androgynous style

We must understand that androgyny is always complex. Therefore, the creation of an image should be carried out taking into account all significant and insignificant details and an understanding of the intricacies of capsule formation.

Real androgynous girls remember everything:

  • accessories;
  • makeup;
  • manicure;
  • hairstyle.

Ladies who choose image as a priority often look at piercings and tattoos, which are also considered desirable elements of image.

All androgynous haircuts can be divided into:

  • strictly masculine;
  • women's with elements of brutality.

And if the former always promote a very short length, then the latter can be created on almost any hair. Their characteristic features will be:

  • severity - no curls, rarely possible weak waves;
  • combed strands - bangs or simply an artificially created parting;
  • minimalism in execution - absence of bright colors and decorative elements.

Such hairstyles – in an androgynous style – can be seen on Milla Jovovich, Anne Hathaway, Charlize Theron, Kristen Stewart, Emma Watson.

Androgynous fashion is impossible without appropriate makeup, and this is not at all a “nude” style, as many people think. An androgynous image is created by focusing on the eyes while otherwise making the image faceless. But there are three “pillars” that must be remembered:

  1. Mandatory tone - the face must be flawless
  2. Sculpting – it’s worth highlighting the cheekbones, bridge of the nose and lips with a highlighter
  3. The eyebrows are wide and thick - close to the male prototype.

The eyes themselves stand out using pencil eyeliner and black mascara. Shadows are practically not used.

As for manicure, it is already clear that:

  • nails are short and neat;
  • varnish – neutral;
  • decor is missing.

The androgynous image excludes extensions, rhinestones, drawings and other purely feminine “tricks” in manicure.

Understanding what an androgynous style should be comes quickly.
It is easy to create, does not require special preparation of the image and can easily be changed to any other image. That is why designers and fashion designers again reminded fashionable ladies about this trend and suggested remembering the trend. Androgynous style 2020 is an abundance of suits, coats, accessories and shoes, which will allow ladies to easily create a feminine-masculine look. The incentive is added by the abundance of mass market offers aimed at maintaining this fashion. Did you like the article
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  1. plitkisix:
    The term “Modern” itself has its roots in the 19th-20th centuries, when a fundamentally new type of art arose in Europe, merging numerous components of many movements of that time. One of the main distinguishing features of the Art Nouveau style is soft curves and lines, deviation whenever possible from right angles and preference for more natural ornaments that are typical of natural objects. The provided direction basically tries to harmoniously combine artistic and utilitarian principles in everything with which one has to work. Most of the design elements in this style have a flexible and sophisticated form.

    Answer

  2. Irina:

    The first thing that comes to mind is that the androgynous style is a bit of playing at being a man for women. But judging by the successful images, women do not lose their feminine attractiveness; rather, they emphasize it with boyish elements in their appearance.

    Answer

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