Hirsutism is the excessive growth of hair on a woman's face and body. The hair is coarse and colored and resembles a male pattern of hair growth. Hair growth can be stimulated by the excessive production of male sex hormones called androgens. Also, certain medications such as progestins (a type of birth control pill) and those used to treat nausea, bipolar disorder, seizures, high blood pressure and migraine headaches can cause the abnormal hair growth. Certain medical conditions of the ovaries (polycystic ovarian disease), adrenal and pituitary glands cause abnormal production of androgens.