Virilization
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Virilization or masculinization is the biological development of adult male characteristics in young males or females.[1] Most of the changes of virilization are produced by androgens.
Virilization is a medical
Prenatal virilization
In the prenatal period, virilization refers to closure of the
Prenatal virilization of individuals with XX chromosomes and undervirilization of individuals with XY are common causes of
For many years, it was widely believed that in
Two processes: defeminization, and masculinization, are involved in producing male typical morphology and behavior.
High
Prenatal virilization of a genetically female fetus can occur when an excessive amount of androgen is produced by the fetal adrenal glands or is present in maternal blood, resulting in virilization of the female genitalia such as an enlarged clitoris.
It can also be associated with
Low
Undervirilization can occur if a genetic male cannot produce enough androgen or the body tissues cannot respond to it. Extreme undervirilization occurs when no significant androgen hormones can be produced or the body is completely insensitive to androgens, in which case a female phenotype will develop. Partial undervirilization produces ambiguous genitalia part-way between male and female. Examples of undervirilization in fetuses with a 46,XY karyotype are
Normal virilization
In common as well as medical usage, virilization often refers to the process of normal male puberty. These effects include growth of the penis and the testes, accelerated growth, development of pubic hair, and other androgenic hair of face, torso, and limbs, deepening of the voice, increased musculature, thickening of the jaw, prominence of the neck cartilage, and broadening of the shoulders.
Abnormal childhood virilization
Virilization can occur in childhood in both males and females due to excessive amounts of androgens. Typical effects of virilization in children are
In adolescent or adult females
Virilization in females can manifest as
- Androgen-producing tumors of the
- Hyperthecosis
- Hypothyroidism
- Anabolic steroid exposure
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (late-onset)
- Conn's syndrome
Medically induced virilization in transgender people
Transgender people who were medically assigned female at birth sometimes elect to take
Permanent virilization effects
- Deepening of the voice
- Growth of facial and body hair
- Male-pattern baldness
- Enlargement of the clitoris
- Breast atrophy – possible shrinking and/or softening of breasts
Reversible virilization effects
- Further muscle development (especially upper body)
- Increased sweat and changes in body odor
- Prominence of veins and coarser skin
- Alterations in blood lipids (triglycerides)
- Increased red blood cell count
Demasculinization
Demasculinization refers to the reversal of virilization. Some but not all aspects of virilization are reversible. Demasculinization occurs naturally with
See also
- Ambiguous genitalia
- Androgen
- Clitoromegaly
- Defeminization
- Feminization (biology)
- Hirsutism
- Secondary sex characteristics
- Sexual differentiation
References
- ^ "Virilization definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary". www.collinsdictionary.com. Retrieved 2017-11-26.
- PMID 25693544.
- ^ "Virilization: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia". medlineplus.gov. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
- ISBN 978-0-7637-4717-6.
Further reading
- Howell, W. M., Black, D. A., & Bortone, S. A. (1980). Abnormal expression of secondary sex characters in a population of mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis holbrooki: evidence for environmentally-induced masculinization. Copeia, 676–681.