What is hyperandrogenism, how much testosterone does the condition produce and what is the controversy surrounding athlete Caster Semenya?

IT’S a condition that can cause obesity, excess hair and a deeper voice for women – as well as many other medical complications surrounding fertility.

Here’s everything you need to know about hyperandrogenism.

What is hyperandrogenism?

Hyperandrogenism is a medical condition where the patient has excess male hormones (such as testosterone) in their body.

It is also known as androgen (male sex hormones) excess, and can affect both men and women.

It is commonly associated with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), which causes excess body/facial hair, elevated sex drive, acne or hair loss.

For women, hyperandrogenism can be associated with the following:

• Obesity
• Hypertension
• Amenorrhea (stopping of the menstrual cycle)
• Ovulatory dysfunction which can lead to infertility
• Hirsutism (excess hair)
• Deeper voice
• Alopecia (balding)
• Elevated sex drive

The condition is less common in men, but excess testosterone can cause cases of sudden aggression.

How much testosterone does the condition produce and what’s the controversy around Caster Semenya?

Hyperandrogenism affects 5-10 per cent of females of a reproductive age, and it causes varying levels per person.

One of the most controversial cases was Caster Semenya, a South-African female athlete who won gold in the women’s 800 metres at the 2009 World Championships.

Owing to her time of 1:55:45, Caster was subjected to gender testing to assert the fact that she was female.

The International Association of Athletics Federations said that her rapid athletic progression arose suspicion of drug use.

Although the sex test results were never officially released, it was leaked that Caster had an intersex trait.

However, 11 months later in July 2010, she was cleared to compete again, and received support from her fans in South Africa as well as worldwide.

New Statesman included her in a list of 50 People That Matter the same year.

She told YOU magazine: “God made me the way I am and I accept myself.”

Caster recently took gold in the 1,500m at the Commonwealth Games in Australia’s Gold Coast on April 10.

The 27-year-old even smashed a new Games record of four minutes 0.71 seconds.

She is hoping to clinch another gold in the 800m women’s final on Friday, April 13, at the Commonwealth Games.

Caster also won a silver medal at the 2011 World Championships and a silver for the 800m at the 2012 Summer Olympics, which was later upgraded to gold after the winner, Mariya Savinova-Farnosova, was disqualified.

She also won gold in the 800m at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.