Hypogonadism - Symptom, Treatment And Causes

Hypogonadism is a type of sexual condition that takes place when the sex glands of a person do not function properly resulting in either complete lack of production of sex hormones or in minute amounts. The sex glands are also referred to as gonads and happen to be chiefly the ovaries in females and testes in men. Secondary sex characteristics such as the development of testes in males and the development of breasts in women in addition to the growth of pubic hair are controlled to a large extent by sex hormones. Hormones also serve to perform a function in the production of sperms and in the menstrual cycle in females.

Hypogonadism is also referred to as gonad deficiency. In males, it is also termed as andropause or a condition of low serum testosterone.

Hypogonadism has been found to occur in two different variants viz. central and primary hypogonadism.

Primary Hypogonadism - A person suffering from primary hypogonadism basically suffers from a deficiency of sex hormones which occurs due to problematic gonads. They continue to receive instructions from the brain to produce sex hormones but simply cannot produce them.

Central Hypogonadism – Central Hypogonadism is also sometimes referred to as secondary hypogonadism. The culprit in this variant of the disease is the brain. This condition results from the dysfunction of the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus which is responsible for controlling the gonads.

• The causes which instigate primary hypogonadism are:
• The primary issue may lie with the genes. Genetic disorders like Klinefelter syndrome and Turner syndrome often result in primary hypogonadism.
• Some autoimmune disorders also may result in the condition. Such disorders include hypoparathyroidism and Addison’s disease.
• Infections that are of a severe nature may also result in primary hypogonadism.
• Diseases of the liver are another cause of this variant of hypogonadism.
• Kidney diseases may also eventually lead to primary hypogonadism.
• Another cause may be undescended testes.
• If your body happens to absorb too much of iron, it leads to hemochromatosis which too may serve to lead to the disease.
• Exposure to radiation is another common cause.
• Surgery performed on the sex organs may result in the disease.

Secondary or Central Hypogonadism may result from:

• Disorders of the genes like Kallmann syndrome.
• Infections like AIDS and HIV.
• Pituitary gland disorders.
• Inflammatory diseases.
• Rapid loss of weight.
• Obesity
• Use of opiates or steroids typically when used for a long time.
• Deficiency in nutrition.
• Exposure to radiation.
• Surgery performed on the brain.
• If the hypothalamus or the pituitary is injured for any reason.
• Tumors around or in the pituitary.