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MALE HYPOGONADISM

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MALE HYPOGONADISM

  • Male hypogonadism, also known as testosterone deficiency, is a failure of the testes to produce the male sex hormone testosterone, sperm, or both.
  • It can be due to a testicular disorder or the result of a disease process involving the hypothalamus and pituitary gland.
  • Hypogonadism can affect many organ functions and it can have a negative impact on quality of life.
  • It can either be birth, or it can develop later in life, often from injury or infection.

SYMPTOMS

Fetal development

If the body doesn’t produce enough testosterone during fetal development, the result may be impaired growth of the external sex organs.
Depending on when hypogonadism develops and how much testosterone is present, a child who is genetically male may be born with:

  • Female genitals
  • Genitals that are neither clearly male nor clearly female (ambiguous genitals)
  • Underdeveloped male genitals
Adulthood

In adult males, hypogonadism can alter certain masculine physical characteristics and impair normal reproductive function. Early signs and symptoms might include:

  • Decreased sex drive
  • Decreased energy
  • Depression
Puberty

Male hypogonadism can delay puberty or cause incomplete or lack of normal development. It can hamper:

  • Development of muscle mass
  • Voice deepening
  • Growth of body and facial hair
  • Growth of the penis and testicles

And it can cause:

  • Excessive growth of the arms and legs in relation to the trunk of the body
  • Development of breast tissue (gynecomastia)

CAUSES

Male hypogonadism means the testicles don’t produce enough of the male sex hormone testosterone. There are two basic types of hypogonadism:

Primary Hypogonadism

  • This type of hypogonadism — also known as primary testicular failure — originates from a problem in the testicles.

Secondary Hypogonadism

  • This type of hypogonadism indicates a problem in the hypothalamus or the pituitary gland — parts of the brain that signal the testicles to produce testosterone.

TREATMENT

  • Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is the recommended treatment for male hypogonadism.
  • It is normally given as a topical gel, transdermal patch, or by injection.
  • Oral forms of testosterone are not used due to the high risk of side effects, such as upset stomach
  • Although TRT has some risk factors there it should not be started without first attending to these conditions.

REMEDIES

Some lifestyle changes can help boost testosterone levels. These include:

  • losing weight
  • exercising
  • managing stress
  • getting adequate sleep
  • avoiding alcohol
  • giving up smoking.
  • The measures can help maintain normal testosterone levels.