Hypogonadism

19 Jun

Posted by Admin as Uncategorized

Hypogonadism

Male hypogonadism is a condition in which the body doesn’t produce enough of the sex hormone testosterone. As many as 5 million men in the United Sates may not produce enough testosterone — the hormone that plays a key role in masculine growth and development during puberty. Testosterone’s effects begin after conception, stimulating the formation of male sex organs. The hormone continues to play an important role through puberty and adulthood by triggering male characteristics and maintaining sex drive. You may be born with hypogonadism, or it can develop later in life from injury or infection. The effects and what you can do about them depend on the cause and at what point in your life hypogonadism occurs.

What are the Symptoms?

The effects of hypogonadism primarily are determined by the stage of life at which they occur. If the gonads produce too little hormone during early fetal development, the growth or functions of the internal and external sex organs may be impaired. This can cause a condition in which the sex of the child is not clear by external examination at birth. During puberty, symptoms of hypogonadism slow growth and affect normal development. Physical changes may include decreased development of muscle mass, lack of deepening of the voice, impaired growth of the penis, testicles and body hair, and development of breast tissue. Other common symptoms include tall stature and abnormal body proportions. In adulthood, hypogonadism can result in erectile dysfunction, infertility, decrease in beard and body hair growth, increase in body fat, development of breast tissue and decreases in the size or firmness of testicles, muscle and bone mass (osteoporosis).

Cause of hypogonadism

It may be “primary” or “central.” In primary hypogonadism, the ovaries or testes themselves do not function properly. Some causes of primary hypogonadism include: Surgery, Radiation, Genetic and developmental disorders, Liver and kidney disease, Infection, Certain autoimmune disorders. The most common genetic disorders that cause primary hypogonadism are Turner syndrome (in women) and Klinefelter syndrome (in men).In central hypogonadism, the centers in the brain that control the gonads do not function properly. Some causes of central hypogonadism includeTumors, Surgery, Radiation, Infections, Trauma.A genetic cause of central hypogonadism that also produces an inability to smell is Kallmann syndrome (males). The most common tumors affecting the pituitary area are craniopharyngioma (in children) and prolactinoma (in adults).

Testosterone can be replaced in one of 4 ways. There are advantages and disadvantages of each.

Primoteston muscular injections every 3-4 weeks.. Injections may be uncomfortable, and patients may experience a tail-off in the effect of testosterone just prior to the next injection. Lately injections lasting up to 3 months have become available (Decapeptyl SR and Nebido. Testosterone skin patches. Skin irritation may be a problem, and a new area of non-hairy skin is required every day in a 7 day cycle. Some patients find them obtrusive. Testosterone concentrations in the blood however are more stable. Testogel. Applied to skin daily as a gel which is then absorbed over 24hrs. Restandol tablets - regrettably not sufficient for many sexually active men.

Risk factors for hypogonadism include:

Kallmann’s syndrome, Undescended testicles as an infant, Mumps infection affecting your testicles, Prior trauma to your testicles, Testicular or pituitary tumors, HIV/AIDS, Klinefelter’s syndrome, Hemochromatosis, Previous chemotherapy or radiation therapy.