Health Clinical Tool

Ferriman-Gallwey Hirsutism Score + PCOS Symptom Checker

The modified Ferriman-Gallwey (mFG) score is the standard clinical tool for measuring hirsutism in women. Rate 9 body areas from 0 (no hair) to 4 (frankly virile). Score ≥8 indicates hirsutism in most populations. Includes Rotterdam PCOS symptom checklist.

mFG Score - Rate Each Area 0–4

Upper Lip0=No hair · 1=Few hairs · 2=Small moustache · 3=Moustache outer half · 4=Moustache full
Chin0=None · 1=Few scattered hairs · 2=Scattered, few beard areas · 3=Light complete cover · 4=Heavy complete cover
Chest0=None · 1=Circumareolar hairs · 2=+ midline hairs · 3=Fusion of areas (¾ coverage) · 4=Complete cover
Upper Back0=None · 1=Few scattered hairs · 2=Still scattered, more hairs · 3=Light full cover · 4=Heavy full cover
Lower Back0=None · 1=Sacral tuft of hair · 2=Sacral tuft + some lateral spread · 3=¾ cover · 4=Full cover
Upper Abdomen0=None · 1=Few midline hairs · 2=Rather more, still midline · 3=Half cover · 4=Full cover
Lower Abdomen0=None · 1=Few midline hairs · 2=Midline streak of hair · 3=Midline band of hair · 4=Inverted V-shape
Arm0=None · 1=Sparse growth affecting less than ¼ · 2=More than ¼, still incomplete · 3=Light full cover · 4=Heavy full cover
Leg0=None · 1=Sparse growth affecting less than ¼ · 2=More than ¼, still incomplete · 3=Light full cover · 4=Heavy full cover
Total mFG Score
0
🔬

Rate each body area above

Score all 9 areas using the 0–4 scale to get your mFG total and clinical interpretation.

Understanding the mFG Score

ScoreInterpretationClinical Action
0–2Normal - minimal terminal hairNo action needed
3–7Mild hirsutism (borderline)Monitor, lifestyle, check androgens
8–15Moderate hirsutismEndocrine evaluation, consider treatment
16–36Severe hirsutismUrgent endocrine assessment

Thresholds vary slightly by ethnicity and laboratory. The ≥8 cutoff is most widely used in Western populations (Ferriman & Gallwey 1961, modified by Hatch et al. 1981).

PCOS - Rotterdam Diagnostic Criteria

Diagnosis of PCOS requires at least 2 of 3 of the following (Rotterdam consensus 2003):

  1. Oligo- or anovulation - irregular or absent menstrual cycles
  2. Clinical or biochemical signs of hyperandrogenism - hirsutism (mFG ≥8), acne, or elevated serum androgens
  3. Polycystic ovaries on ultrasound (≥12 follicles per ovary or ovarian volume >10 mL)

Other causes (congenital adrenal hyperplasia, Cushing's syndrome, androgen-secreting tumours) must be excluded. This tool is for informational use only - consult a healthcare professional for diagnosis.

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