Hypogonadism – What is it, Symptoms and Treatments

Hypogonadism – What it is, Symptoms and Treatments of this condition. Also, Hypogonadism occurs when the sex glands produce too little sex hormone. The sex glands, also called the gonads, are mainly testes in men and ovaries in women. Sex hormones help control secondary sex characteristics, such as breast development in women, testicular development in men, and pubic hair growth.

Sex hormones also play a role in the menstrual cycle and sperm production . Hypogonadism can also be known as gonad deficiency. It can be called low serum testosterone or andropause when it happens in males. Most cases of this disorder respond well to appropriate medical treatment.

There are two types of Hypogonadism , Primary and Central Hypogonadism .

Primary Hypogonadism: Primary Hypogonadism means that you don’t have enough sex hormones in your body due to a problem with your gonads. Your gonads are still getting the message to produce hormones from your brain, but they can’t produce them.

Central Hypogonadism: Central Hypogonadism is the problem that resides in your brain. When the hypothalamus and pituitary gland in your brain, which control your gonads, are not working properly.

Causes of Hypogonadism:

The causes of Primary Hypogonadism include:

• Autoimmune diseases such as Addison’s disease and hypoparathyroidism;
• Genetic diseases such as Turner syndrome and Klinefelter syndrome;
• serious infections ;
• Liver and kidney diseases;
• undescended testes ;
• Hemochromatosis, which happens when your body absorbs too much iron
• Exposure to radiation;
• Surgery on your sexual organs;

Central or Secondary Hypogonadism May Be Due to:

• Genetic disorders such as Kallmann syndrome (abnormal hypothalamic development);
• Infections , including HIV and AIDS;
• Pituitary disorders;
• Inflammatory diseases, including sarcoidosis, tuberculosis and histiocytosis;
• Obesity;
• Fast weight loss;
• Nutritional deficiencies;
• Steroid or opiate use (especially long-term use)
• brain surgery;
• Exposure to radiation;
• Injury to the pituitary gland or hypothalamus;
• A tumor in or near the pituitary gland.

Symptoms of Hypogonadism:

Symptoms that can affect women include:

• Lack of menstruation ;
• Slow or absent breast growth;
• Body hair loss;
• Low or absent sex drive;
• Milky outflow from your breasts.

Symptoms that can affect men include:

• Body hair loss;
• Muscle loss;
• Abnormal breast growth;
• Reduced growth of penis and testicles ;
• Erectile Dysfunction ;
• Osteoporosis;
• Low or absent sex drive;
• Infertility;
• Fatigue;
• Difficulty concentrating.

Treatments for Hypogonadism:

Treatment for Hypogonadism in Women:

Your treatment will involve increasing the amount of female sex hormones in your body if you are a woman. Your first line of treatment will likely be estrogen therapy if you’ve had a hysterectomy. Either a patch or a pill can deliver the supplemental estrogen hormone .

Because increased estrogen levels can increase your risk of endometrial cancer, you will be given a combination of estrogen and progesterone if you do not have a hysterectomy. Progesterone may lower your risk of endometrial cancer if you are taking estrogen.

Other treatments may target specific symptoms. If you are a woman and you have a decreased sex drive, you may be given low doses of testosterone. If you have menstrual irregularities or trouble conceiving, you may be given injections of human choriotonotropin (hCG) hormones or pills containing FSH to trigger ovulation.

Treatment for Hypogonadism in Men:

Testosterone is a male sex hormone . Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is a widely used treatment for hypogonadism in men. You can get testosterone replacement therapy by:

• Injection;
• Patch;
• Gel;
• tablet;

Injections of a gonadotropin -releasing hormone can trigger puberty or increase your sperm production.

Treatment for Hypogonadism in Men and Women:

Treatment for men and women is similar if the hypogonadism is due to a tumor in the pituitary gland. Treatment may include radiation, medication, or surgery to shrink or remove the tumor.