What is hypogonadism? | Dr Rama Sofat Hospital

            What is hypogonadism? | Dr Rama Sofat Hospital

Hypogonadism occurs when your sex glands produce little or no sex hormones. The sex glands, also called gonads, are primarily the testes in men and the ovaries in women. Sex hormones help control secondary sex characteristics, such as breast development in women, testicular development in men, and pubic hair growth. Sex hormones also play a role in the menstrual cycle and sperm production as explained by Dr Rama Sofat.

Hypogonadism may also be known as gonad deficiency. It may be called low serum testosterone or andropause when it happens in males.

Most cases of this condition respond well to appropriate medical treatment.

What are the types of hypogonadism?

There are two types of hypogonadism: primary and central.

Primary hypogonadism

Primary hypogonadism means that you don’t have enough sex hormones in your body due to a problem in your gonads. Your gonads are still receiving the message to produce hormones from your brain, but they aren’t able to produce them as explained by Dr Rama Sofat.

Central (secondary) hypogonadism

In central hypogonadism, the problem lies in your brain. Your hypothalamus and pituitary gland, which control your gonads, aren’t working properly.

What are the causes of hypogonadism?

The causes of primary hypogonadism include:

autoimmune disorders, such as Addison’s disease and hypoparathyroidismgenetic disorders, such as Turner syndrome,

severe infections, especially mumps involving your testicles

Treatment for male hypogonadism

Testosterone is a male sex hormone. Testosterone replacement therapy is a widely used treatment for hypogonadism in males. You can get testosterone replacement therapy by:

• injection
• patch
• gel
• lozenge

Treatment for female hypogonadism

If you’re female, your treatment will involve increasing your amount of female sex hormones.

Because increased estrogen levels can increase your risk of endometrial cancer, you’ll be given a combination of estrogen and progesterone if you haven’t had a hysterectomy. Progesterone can lower your risk for endometrial cancer if you’re taking estrogen.