The Ferriman-Gallwey score is a method for evaluating and quantifying hirsutism in women. Hirsutism is the condition of abnormal or excessive hair growth, a common disorder affecting up eight percent of women.

The Ferriman-Gallwey score is based on the hair growth level on nine different positions of the body. The hair growth level is rated from zero to four, where zero is virtually no hair at all, and four is completely covered with hair. The maximum score is therefor 36. The following table is for caucasian women. Other ethnic groups have different levels of expected hair growth, and the scale will differ.

• Normal: < 8
• Light hirsutism: 8-16
• Moderate hirsutism: 17-25
• Severe hirusitsm: > 26

The nine different positions where hair growth level is measured are the following:

• Upper lip
• Chin
• Chest
• Upper part of the back
• Lower part of the back
• Upper half of the abdomen
• Lower half of the abdomen
• Arms, thighs and legs
• Front armlever