Hypogonadism is a rare disease that affects less than 200,000 people in the US. It is a condition in which the deficiency of sex hormones occurs resulting into partial or complete failure of puberty. This condition refers to the improper functioning of the gonads which is responsible for the production of male testosterone. It is also known as gonadal deficiency. The male testosterone plays an important role in the growth and development of muscles during puberty. Some people are born with this defective condition and some tend to acquire it later in their life due to injury or infection.
Hypogonadism can be treated with testosterone replacement therapy however it strictly depends on its causes and the stage at which the person has acquired it. Hypogonadism is found to affect about 5 in every 1000 men. Though, this condition is a serious medical issue, yet it can be treated. Hypogonadism can be classified into primary and secondary hypogonadism.
Primary Hypogonadism
In the primary hypogonadism, the dysfunction of the testis or the ovary is the cause. It could have been functioning properly but has stopped at a later stage. There are a number of reasons behind it and only your doctor can help you in identifying the causes for the abrupt cease. Some common causes are:
1) Smoking
2) Alcohol
3) Radiation or Chemotherapy
4) Viral Conditions
5) Twisted Testis
6) Liver or kidney problems
7) Physical damage to the testis.
Secondary Hypogonadism
The secondary hypogonadism occurs rarely and generally its causes lay elsewhere. One reason could be the brain failing to stimulate the testis. Secondary hypogonadism is also referred to as Hypogonatrophic Hypogonadism. A person suffering from secondary hypogonadism may not develop puberty or may not finish it. Some of the common causes of this condition are:
1) Too much iron in the body
2) Delayed puberty
3) Kallman’s syndrome
4) Disease of pituitary
There are also certain genetic conditions such as Turner’s Syndrome and Kleinefelter’s syndrome which are classed as Hypergonatrophic Hypogonadism. They are more common than the Kallman’s syndrome. The symptoms experienced by the sufferer may vary from adult to adult. However they may experience weakness and fatigue. In order to determine the causes of the low or no production of hormone, consult a doctor.
Suggested Reading:
symptoms of hypogonadism
causes of hypogonadism
treatment of hypogonadism
