A method was developed for the semiquantitative assessment of body hair growth, and suitable for use in the study of clinical problems associated with hirsuties in women. Five gradings based on densities and areas involved, were determined for each of 11 sites. Findings from application of the method to a control group of 430 women (ages, 15-74 years) are reported. Hair tended to increase on the face and disappear from all other sites with advancing years. In younger age groups a significant amount of hair was found on the forearm and leg in most subjects, but a zero grading was much the commonest finding at all other sites. It is suggested that 2 factors may be involved: one of protective nature with main expression on the forearm and leg, and the other related to hormone levels or sensitivity, with clearest expression elsewhere. An "hormonal" score obtained by adding the gradings obtained from 9 of the 11 sites (excluding the forearm and leg) is being employed in clinical studies.

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SUMMARY We have examined the prevalence of a history of hirsuties, alone or associated with oligomenorrhoea and infertility, among first degree female relatives of 284 hirsute patients with or without oligomenorrhoea, and found it to be significantly higher than that in controls (P< 0.001). The prevalence of a history of premature balding among first degree male relatives of 136 such patients was also significantly higher than that in controls (P<0.001). We found relative prevalences of the respective conditions among mothers and daughters and among fathers and brothers suggestive in both cases of modified dominant forms of inheritance. These data and evidence from the literature suggest the possible existence of a single genetically determined disorder with hirsuties, oligomenorrhoea, infertility and commonly but not invariably enlarged polycystic ovaries occurring among affected female members, and with premature balding among affected male members. The prevalence of a history of oligomenorrhoea and infertility together was also examined among first degree relatives of forty‐five non‐hirsute patients with oligomenorrhoea and enlarged ovaries demonstrated by gynaecography and found significantly greater than that in controls (P< 0.001). The prevalence among forty‐five similar patients but with gynaecographically normal‐sized ovaries was greater than that in controls but the difference fell short of significance (P= 0.06). The data suggest the existence of a genetically determined disorder consisting of oligomenorrhoea, infertility and commonly but not invariably enlarged polycystic ovaries. Again the relative prevalences among mothers and sisters suggest a modified dominant form of inheritance. Neither the prevalence of hirsuties among first degree female relatives nor of premature balding among first degree male relatives differed from controls in these non‐hirsute patients. This suggests that the two disorders are aetiologically distinct. Their possible pathogeneses, which remain obscure, are discussed. A steroid receptor organ anomaly is one possibility.

SummaryAn analysis of 467 patients with oligomenorrhoea and/or hirsuties in respect to duration of the menstrual cycle, body hair growth, ovarian size and the presence of psychological factors has revealed some useful pointers to diagnosis in this syndrome. Some 70% probably suffered from polycystic ovarian disease. Hirsuties and post-pill amenorrhoea are strong pointers to such a diagnosis. Some 10%o of the cases may have been psychogenic in origin and are notably found amoung non-hirsute patients with normal sized ovaries. Another 10% may have been physiological in nature. All other disorders accounted for no more than 10% of the cases. Anorexia nervosa and ovarian dysgenesis are particularly to be found among amenorrhoeic, non-hirsute patients with normal sized (or small) ovaries accounting for no less than 37% of this group in our series.

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