Question of the Month
Q:
Is PCOS hereditary, can it be passed on to my
children?
Most doctors state hair growth is based on your culture...Italian, Middle
Eastern, etc. Is that true or is it all PCOS related?
A:
These are two important questions.
There are definitely hereditary factors in PCOS but it involves many genes.
Sometimes daughters are affected but often they are not. In any case the
treatment is improving dramatically so it is not something to worry about - if
it happens something can be done to help it.
All ethnic groups can have extra hair. It is about equally common in Caucasians
and African-Americans. Asians, both male and female, have much less facial and
body hair so extra hair, if it occurs, tends to be less.
With Caucasians, the color of hair and skin influences how visible extra hair
is. In someone with dark hair, any increase will be more apparent than in those
with very fair hair. However, I have seen women with very light hair and skin
have this problem. The important thing is that increased hair can be treated
with electrolysis or medication or both in all ethnic groups.
Hope this is helpful.
Sincerely,
Geoffrey Redmond, MD
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