April 2020 in “Journal of the Endocrine Society” A woman's high testosterone and related symptoms were caused by overactive cells in her ovaries.
26 citations
,
April 2007 in “Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition” A teenage girl with high androgen levels and PCOS developed a rare liver tumor, suggesting a possible link between high androgens and the tumor's growth.
7 citations
,
October 2019 in “Case reports in endocrinology” A young woman's symptoms suggested PCOS, but tests and surgery confirmed and treated a rare ovarian tumor, resolving her condition.
44 citations
,
February 2016 in “Zoology” Hair cortisol levels in primates are useful for stress assessment but vary by age, sex, species, and hair collection methods.
69 citations
,
December 2005 in “Nature Clinical Practice Endocrinology & Metabolism” Blocking the enzyme 11β-HSD1 might help treat obesity and metabolic issues.
1 citations
,
September 2020 in “Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism Case Reports” The conclusion is that thorough investigation of hypertension and hormonal dysfunctions is important, and there may be a link between these conditions and cancer.
11 citations
,
May 2020 in “Frontiers in psychiatry” Child abuse is linked to higher BMI, but not because of hair cortisol or cortisone levels.
2 citations
,
June 2021 in “Medicine” High levels of cortisol in hair are linked to a greater risk of brain aneurysm rupture.
April 2011 in “Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature” Hair cortisol is a reliable long-term stress marker during pregnancy.
122 citations
,
October 2010 in “Clinica Chimica Acta” Washing hair with water or shampoo lowers cortisol levels in hair.
22 citations
,
January 2010 in “Clinical Medicine Insights Endocrinology and Diabetes” Forearm hair has more cortisol than lower leg hair.
November 2025 in “Contraception” COC use doesn't increase hair stress hormone levels, but hair treatments may affect results.
23 citations
,
October 2008 in “Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology & Diabetes” Hair can show increased cortisol levels during late pregnancy.
69 citations
,
May 2016 in “General and Comparative Endocrinology” External factors can significantly affect hair cortisol levels, so it's not always a reliable stress marker.
50 citations
,
November 2020 in “Physiology & behavior” People with depression often have higher hair cortisol levels, while those with PTSD tend to have lower levels, but more research is needed to understand this fully.
16 citations
,
March 2000 in “Clinical Biochemistry” Women with hair loss had higher levels of certain hormones, suggesting a link to a condition like PCOS.
11 citations
,
April 2020 in “Animals” Moving horses to new places can increase their stress levels, as shown by higher stress hormone in their hair.
Higher pre-pregnancy BMI is linked to more stress in mothers and more behavioral problems in two-year-old children.
January 2020 in “Journal of South Asian Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology” Removing the ovaries can help treat hair loss caused by high androgen levels in postmenopausal women.
296 citations
,
October 2018 in “General and Comparative Endocrinology” Hair cortisol is a reliable way to measure long-term stress in animals.
16 citations
,
January 2021 in “Frontiers in veterinary science” Pigs in farrowing crates and loose-housing systems showed no difference in chronic stress levels as measured by hair cortisol.
4 citations
,
March 2013 in “Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment” A woman with anorexia and Cushing's syndrome improved after tumor removal, highlighting the need to consider hormonal issues in psychiatric conditions.
December 2025 in “Biology Bulletin Reviews” Hair cortisol can indicate animal stress but varies with many factors.
22 citations
,
May 2019 in “Animals” High hair cortisol levels indicate stress in cows due to poor shelter conditions and health issues.
118 citations
,
October 2014 in “Journal of Dairy Science” Tail switch hair is best for measuring cortisol in Holstein cows, with white hair and multiparous cows showing higher levels.
9 citations
,
April 2020 in “Endocrinology, diabetes & metabolism case reports” Pregnancy with Cushing's syndrome is rare and risky for both mother and baby, needing early diagnosis and treatment.
March 2025 in “Institutional Repositories DataBase (IRDB)” Hair cortisol can measure chronic stress but has inconsistent results.
April 2024 in “JCEM case reports” A woman's rare benign tumor that released both cortisol and testosterone was successfully removed, improving her health.
157 citations
,
June 2015 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology” Hair cortisol and cortisone levels increase with age, are higher in diabetics, vary by gender, decrease with frequent hair washing, and are lower in winter.
34 citations
,
January 2008 in “International Review of Neurobiology” Epilepsy and certain epilepsy drugs can lead to reproductive problems in women, but changing medication might improve these issues.