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Virilization

Virilization is a condition in which a female develops characteristics associated with male hormones (androgens), or when a newborn has characteristics of male hormone exposure at birth.

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Virilization may be caused by:

• Excess testosterone production
• Use of anabolic steroids (performance-enhancing or related to gender reassignment)

In newborn boys or girls, the condition may be caused by:

• Certain medicines taken by the mother during pregnancy
• Congenital adrenal hyperplasia in the baby or the mother
• Other medical conditions in the mother (such as tumors of the ovaries or adrenal glands that release male hormones)

In girls who are going through puberty, the condition may be caused by:

• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• Certain medicines, or anabolic steroids
• Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
• Tumors of the ovaries, or adrenal glands that release male hormones (androgens)

In adult women, the condition may be caused by:

• Certain medicines, or anabolic steroids
• Tumors of the ovaries or adrenal glands that release male hormones

Signs of virilization in a female often depend on the level of testosterone in the body.

Low level (common):

• Thick, dark facial hair in the beard or mustache area
• Increase in body hair
• Oily skin or acne
• Irregular menstrual periods

Moderate level (uncommon):

• Male-pattern baldness
• Loss of female fat distribution
• Decreased breast size

High level (rare):

• Enlargement of the clitoris
• Deepening of the voice
• Male muscle pattern

Tests may include:

• Blood tests to detect excess testosterone in females
• CT scan, MRI, or ultrasound to rule out tumors of the ovaries and adrenal glands

If virilization is caused by exposure to androgens (male hormones) in female adults, many of the symptoms go away when the hormones are stopped. However, deepening of the voice is a permanent effect of exposure to androgens.

Related Information

References

Gooren LJ. The endocrinology of sexual behavior and gender identity. In: Jameson JL, De Groot LJ, de Kretser DM, et al, eds. Endocrinology: Adult and Pediatric. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 124.

Styne DM. Physiology and disorders of puberty. In: Melmed S, Auchus RJ, Goldfine AB, Koenig RJ, Rosen CJ, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 26.

Review Date: 5/3/2021  

Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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