BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuVirilizationVirilization 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. Information Virilization may be caused by:Excess testosterone production Use of anabolic steroids (used for performance-enhancement or other purposes) 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 Congenital adrenal hyperplasiaCongenital adrenal hyperplasia is the name given to a group of inherited disorders of the adrenal gland. Inherited means the traits are passed down ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article 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 Polycystic ovary syndromePolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition in which a woman has increased levels of male hormones (androgens). Many problems occur as a result ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article 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 or other androgen hormones in females CT scan, MRI, or ultrasound to check for tumors of the ovaries and adrenal glands CT scanA computed tomography (CT) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create pictures of cross-sections of the body. Related tests include:Abdomin...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MRIA magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the body. It does not us...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article UltrasoundUltrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to make images of organs and structures inside the body.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article 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.Open ReferencesReferencesBulun SE, Babayev E. Physiology and pathology of the female reproductive axis. In: Melmed S, Auchus RJ, Goldfine AB, Rosen CJ, Kopp PA, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 15th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 15.Pitteloud, N, Papadakis GE, Jacobs AN. Physiology and disorders of puberty. In: Melmed S, Auchus RJ, Goldfine AB, Rosen CJ, Kopp PA, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 15th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 23.White PC. Sexual development. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 214.AllVideoImagesTogHypothalamus hormone production - illustration The controlling hormones from the hypothalamus regulate hormone production by the pituitary. These hormones regulate body processes such as metabolism and control the release of hormones from glands like the thyroid, the adrenals, and the gonads (testes or ovaries).Hypothalamus hormone productionillustrationHypothalamus hormone production - illustration The controlling hormones from the hypothalamus regulate hormone production by the pituitary. These hormones regulate body processes such as metabolism and control the release of hormones from glands like the thyroid, the adrenals, and the gonads (testes or ovaries).Hypothalamus hormone productionillustrationRelated Information Male pattern baldness(Condition)Testosterone(Medical Test)Endocrine glands(Special Topic) Review Date: 4/1/2025 Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor Emeritus, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. 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VirilizationVirilization 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. Information Virilization may be caused by:Excess testosterone production Use of anabolic steroids (used for performance-enhancement or other purposes) 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 Congenital adrenal hyperplasiaCongenital adrenal hyperplasia is the name given to a group of inherited disorders of the adrenal gland. Inherited means the traits are passed down ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article 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 Polycystic ovary syndromePolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition in which a woman has increased levels of male hormones (androgens). Many problems occur as a result ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article 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 or other androgen hormones in females CT scan, MRI, or ultrasound to check for tumors of the ovaries and adrenal glands CT scanA computed tomography (CT) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create pictures of cross-sections of the body. Related tests include:Abdomin...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MRIA magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the body. It does not us...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article UltrasoundUltrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to make images of organs and structures inside the body.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article 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.Open ReferencesReferencesBulun SE, Babayev E. Physiology and pathology of the female reproductive axis. In: Melmed S, Auchus RJ, Goldfine AB, Rosen CJ, Kopp PA, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 15th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 15.Pitteloud, N, Papadakis GE, Jacobs AN. Physiology and disorders of puberty. In: Melmed S, Auchus RJ, Goldfine AB, Rosen CJ, Kopp PA, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 15th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 23.White PC. Sexual development. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 214.
