Why do some older women grow beards?

ceetee

All females make a small amount of testosterone, the result being pubic and axial hair. After the menopause, there is no estrogen or progesterone to balance out the small amount of testosterone that is still made. This link sort of answers it but not exactly as I would like. http://www.coolquiz.com/trivia/explain/docs/beard.asp Nov 08 10, 4:45 AM

Arpeggionist

The real question is why women don't grow facial hair at younger ages, why we humans are so hairless compared to other mammals. But that is also a duplicate question. Nov 08 10, 8:15 AM

Zbeckabee

There may be no underlying cause for excess body hair in women; the term used when there are no discernible medical problems is "idiopathic." When a medical problem exists, it usually appears at puberty and may be the result of polycystic ovarian disease, or abnormalities in adrenal gland function. Older women who suddenly experience facial hair growth should have a medical exam to rule out the presence of ovarian, endometrial or adrenal cancer. Tumors associated with cancer secrete hormones that cause facial hair to grow rapidly. Other medical causes include obesity, diabetes and insulin resistance. Young women with sudden weight gain who have recently discontinued oral contraceptives might see an increased growth in facial hair. Drugs including testosterone and anabolic steroids also promote facial hair in women. Less common but serious health problems include include anorexia,, acromegaly, hypothyroidism, hyperprolactinemia and porphyria, all of which are also associated with hirsutism. Ethnicity and familial tendency toward facial hair are normal in many women, and can be dealt with by using depilatory creams, bleaches or visits to the aesthetician. http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4568356_do-women-grow-facial-hair.html Nov 08 10, 8:43 AM