Causes and Symptoms of Hypogonadism

[Guest guest]

Testosterone is a hormone that plays a critical role in several aspects

of sexual development in males. Testosterone is also important during

adulthood. When the level of testosterone in the body is too low to

perform all of its functions, the condition is called " testosterone

deficiency, " or " hypogonadism. "

Causes of Hypogonadism

Male hypogonadism is usually caused by some kind of problem within the

testes that leads to inadequate testosterone production and secretion.

This form of hypogonadism is known as " primary hypogonadism. " The

causes and symptoms of primary hypogonadism are dependent on the age of

onset for the condition.

Secondary hypogonadism can affect both males and females. In healthy

people, the brain signals the testes or ovaries to stimulate synthesis

of testosterone and other hormones--but people with secondary

hypogonadism have low testosterone levels because of inadequate

signaling.

For example, one form of secondary hypogonadism, called

" hypogonadotripic hypogonadism, " results from inadequate production of

both the follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones. These hormones

are secreted from the pituitary gland and enter the bloodstream, where

they eventually reach the testes or ovaries and stimulate testosterone

production. Like primary hypogonadism, the causes and symptoms of

secondary hypogonadism depend on the age or developmental stage at which

the condition begins.

In some cases, hypogonadism is the direct result a specific genetic

mutation or chromosome abnormality (e.g. Kallmann syndrome and

Klinefelter syndrome). Other times, hypogonadism occurs because of an

injury or disease that affects the testicles or simply as a result of

aging.

Symptoms of Hypogonadism in Fetal Development

Even before birth, testosterone is needed for proper development. When

hypogonadism occurs in a male fetus, the baby is often born with an

underdeveloped penis and testicles. If the testosterone levels are

extremely low, the genitalia may be ambiguous or even look externally

female.

Symptoms of Hypogonadism in Adolescence

Once boys reach adolescence, testosterone production in the testes

increases significantly, and puberty begins. If testosterone levels fail

to reach sufficient levels, the following symptoms are commonly

observed:

* Absence of facial and body hair

* Failure to produce sperm

* Growth of breast tissue

* Impaired ability to build muscle mass

* Lack of vocal change.

Many of these symptoms represent a failure to undergo the normal

changes associated with puberty. Boys who reach adolescence without

undergoing these changes may need to be tested for hypogonadism. Your

doctor may prescribe testosterone supplements if levels are found to be

too low.

Symptoms of Hypogonadism in Adulthood

When hypogonadism starts during adulthood, the symptoms are typically

more subtle than at other life stages. Many adult men with hypogonadism

may not initially seek treatment for their symptoms, which can include:

* Depression or other mood changes

* Erectile dysfunction (impotence)

* Infertility

* Trouble sleeping.

Testosterone levels naturally decline as men get older, but the degree

of this decline and the results of this decline can vary greatly. In

some men, the symptoms listed above may arise even though testosterone

levels are within normal range for their age. Conversely, other men

with testosterone levels that are below normal may not experience any

of the above symptoms. Additionally, the effectiveness of hormone

supplements can also vary from one individual to the next.

Testosterone levels also decline in adult women, particularly once they

reach menopause. Women may find that they have less energy and less

interest in sex as a result of low testosterone.

Resources

American Accreditation HealthCare Commission. (n.d.). Hypogonadotropic

hypogonadism. Retrieved January 18, 2010 from the Medline Plus Web site:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000390.htm.

Center for Bioenvironmental Research at Tulane and Xavier Universities.

(2009). The hormones: Androgens. Retrieved January 18, 2010 from the

e.hormone Web site: http://e.hormone.tulane.edu/learning/androgens.html.

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2008). Male

hypogonadism. Retrieved January 18, 2010 from the Mayo Clinic Web site:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/male-hypogonadism/DS00300/DSECTION=comp\

lications.

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2009). Male

menopause: Myth or reality? Retrieved January 18, 2010 from the Mayo

Clinic Web site:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/male-menopause/MC00058.

Painter, A. (n.d.). Testosterone: A major breakthrough for menopausal

women. Retrieved January 18, 2010 from the Discovery Health Web site:

http://health.discovery.com/centers/womens/testosterone/testosterone.htm\

l.

Sindair Intimacy Institute. (2002). Estrogen and testosterone hormones.

Retrieved January 18, 2010 from the Discovery Health Web site:

http://health.discovery.com/centers/sex/sexpedia/hormone.html.

UC Regents. (n.d.). Testosterone deficiency. Retrieved January 18, 2010

from the e.hormone Web site:

http://e.hormone.tulane.edu/learning/androgens.html.

WebMD, LLC. (2008). Testosterone. Retrieved January 18, 2010 from the

WebMD Web site: http://men.webmd.com/testosterone-15738.

WebMD, LLC. (2008). What low testosterone can mean for your health.

Retrieved January 18, 2010 from the WebMD Web site:

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-low-testosterone-can-mean-your-h\

ealth.

<http://www.familydoctorpk.com>

[Guest guest]

Hi Jawad and Welcome,

Thanks for the info every little bit helps.

Co-Moderator

Phil

> From: jawad <jawad332001@...>

> Subject: Causes and Symptoms of Hypogonadism

>

> Date: Sunday, December 26, 2010, 2:32 PM

>

> Testosterone is a hormone that plays a critical role in

> several  aspects

> of sexual development in males. Testosterone is also

> important  during

> adulthood. When the level of testosterone in the body is

> too low  to

> perform all of its functions, the condition is called

> " testosterone

> deficiency, " or " hypogonadism. "

> Causes of Hypogonadism

> Male hypogonadism is usually caused by some kind of problem

> within  the

> testes that leads to inadequate testosterone production

> and  secretion.

> This form of hypogonadism is known as " primary

> hypogonadism. "   The

> causes and symptoms of primary hypogonadism are dependent

> on the  age of

> onset for the condition.

>

> Secondary hypogonadism can affect both males and females.

> In healthy

> people, the brain signals the testes or ovaries to

> stimulate synthesis

> of testosterone and other hormones--but people with

> secondary

> hypogonadism have low testosterone levels because of

> inadequate

> signaling.

>

> For example, one form of secondary hypogonadism, called

> " hypogonadotripic hypogonadism, " results from inadequate

> production of

> both the follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones.

> These hormones

> are secreted from the pituitary gland and enter the

> bloodstream, where

> they eventually reach the testes or ovaries and stimulate

> testosterone

> production. Like primary hypogonadism, the causes and

> symptoms of

> secondary hypogonadism depend on the age or developmental

> stage at which

> the condition begins.

>

> In some cases, hypogonadism is the direct result a specific

> genetic

> mutation or chromosome abnormality (e.g. Kallmann syndrome

> and

> Klinefelter syndrome). Other times, hypogonadism occurs

> because of an

> injury or disease that affects the testicles or simply as a

> result of

> aging.

> Symptoms of Hypogonadism in Fetal Development

> Even before birth, testosterone is needed for proper

> development.  When

> hypogonadism occurs in a male fetus, the baby is often born

> with an

> underdeveloped penis and testicles. If the testosterone

> levels are

> extremely low, the genitalia may be ambiguous or even look

> externally

> female.

> Symptoms of Hypogonadism in Adolescence

> Once boys reach adolescence, testosterone production in the

> testes

> increases significantly, and puberty begins. If

> testosterone levels fail

> to reach sufficient levels, the following symptoms are

> commonly

> observed:

>

>     * Absence of facial and body hair

>     * Failure to produce sperm

>     * Growth of breast tissue

>     * Impaired ability to build muscle mass

>     * Lack of vocal change.

>

> Many of these symptoms represent a failure to undergo the

> normal

> changes associated with puberty. Boys who reach adolescence

> without

> undergoing these changes may need to be tested for

> hypogonadism. Your

> doctor may prescribe testosterone supplements if levels are

> found to be

> too low.

> Symptoms of Hypogonadism in Adulthood

> When hypogonadism starts during adulthood, the symptoms are

> typically

> more subtle than at other life stages. Many adult men with

> hypogonadism

> may not initially seek treatment for their symptoms, which

> can include:

>

>     * Depression or other mood changes

>     * Erectile dysfunction (impotence)

>     * Infertility

>     * Trouble sleeping.

>

> Testosterone levels naturally decline as men get older, but

> the  degree

> of this decline and the results of this decline can vary

> greatly.  In

> some men, the symptoms listed above may arise even

> though  testosterone

> levels are within normal range for their age.

> Conversely,  other men

> with testosterone levels that are below normal may

> not  experience any

> of the above symptoms. Additionally, the effectiveness

> of  hormone

> supplements can also vary from one individual to the next.

>

> Testosterone levels also decline in adult women,

> particularly once  they

> reach menopause. Women may find that they have less energy

> and less

> interest in sex as a result of low testosterone.

> Resources

> American Accreditation HealthCare Commission. (n.d.).

> Hypogonadotropic

> hypogonadism. Retrieved January 18, 2010 from the Medline

> Plus Web site:

> http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000390.htm.

>

> Center for Bioenvironmental Research at Tulane and Xavier

> Universities.

> (2009). The hormones: Androgens. Retrieved January 18, 2010

> from the

> e.hormone Web site: http://e.hormone.tulane.edu/learning/androgens.html.

>

> Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2008).

> Male

> hypogonadism.  Retrieved January 18, 2010 from the

> Mayo Clinic Web site:

>