Higher than usual androgen levels or activity, detected through clinical signs or blood tests.
Why it matters for PCOS
Androgens are a group of hormones such as testosterone that women normally have in small amounts. When their level or activity rises, it can cause persistent acne, excess facial or body hair (hirsutism), and male-pattern hair loss. Hyperandrogenism is one of the three Rotterdam criteria used to assess PCOS.
Hyperandrogenism can be clinical, based on visible signs, or biochemical, based on blood tests such as total testosterone or the free androgen index. These signs alone do not confirm PCOS, because a doctor needs to exclude other causes and weigh them alongside cycle pattern and other findings.
This glossary is education, not diagnosis. For your own situation, ask a doctor or pharmacist.