Hypogonadism

Hypogonadism – General Information

Hypogonadism is a disorder which affects both males and females and is characterized by an insufficient quantity of sex hormones in the body. These hormones are extremely important as they control the sexual development and growth during adolescence. The sex hormone effects start to appear after birth and they are responsible for the formation of the sex organs. They, however, continue to play an extremely important role during the first years of life, adolescence and even adulthood. This disease can be inherited or it can develop later in life. This is the reason why there are several types of treatment, considering when the disease appears and what caused it. For example, if Hypogonadism appears at birth it will result in incomplete development of the sex organs; if it appears during puberty, it will completely affect the normal development and growth of the sex organs and after adolescence it will appear in a milder form and it will cause a few temporary problems and complications.

There are several causes which can lead to the appearance of Hypogonadism; these causes however should be considered in direct connection with the type of the disease a person suffers from. The causes which lead to the appearance of the first type of the disease include the klinefeter’s syndrome, hemochromatosis, mumps orchitis, injury of the sexual organs or normal aging. The second form of the disease is usually induced by the kallman syndrome, some inflammatory diseases, some pituitary disorders, the administration of certain medicines or the presence of obesity.

Hypogonadism - Symptoms

The signs and symptoms which appear in the case of Hypogonadism are different if we consider the period of life when this disease appears. If the disease appears at birth, the main sign which will appear is an impaired growth of the sex organs which are located in the exterior. In this case, the child may present both male and female genitals, underdeveloped genitals or ambiguous genitals, which means that the doctor can not establish for sure whether the child presents female or male genitals. During puberty, the disease evolves more slowly and it affects only the development of the sex organs. The most common signs and symptoms which have been reported in this case are the abnormal rhythm of the growth of hair on the body, the decreased growth of the muscle mass in the case of boys, the decreased growth of the breasts in the case of girls and the lack of the intensifying of the voice in the case of boys. If the disease appears during adulthood, it will affect the capacity of reproduction and the physical characteristics of the sexual organs. The most common symptoms which have been reported include the following: infertility, obesity, erectile dysfunction in the case of men, osteoporosis or gynecomastia. Another important thing which should be known about Hypogonadism is the fact that it can cause severe emotional and mental problems. There are some emotional problems which can affect both men and women: irritability, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, hot flashes, depression or even decreased sex drive.

Hypogonadism – Treatment

If you notice any of the signs and symptoms presented above, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible in order to obtain a sure diagnosis and to benefit from the best way of treatment. In order to obtain all the information about your problem you should visit not only your personal doctor, but an endocrinologist as well. Apart from the description of the symptoms and signs which you experience, the doctor will also recommend you to take one or more of the following tests: a test in order to determine the level of the sex hormones in your body, a blood test, a pituitary imaging, a semen analysis, a testicular biopsy, an ovary biopsy or a genetic study. In addition, as this disease can be inherited, your doctor will probably ask some information about your family medical history.

After the diagnosis is settled, the doctor will choose the best way of treatment, considering the age of the patient and the cause which led to its appearance. However, the most common way of treating Hypogonadism is the replacement of the sexual hormones; this can improve the strength of the muscles, the sexual function and it can prevent the appearance of osteoporosis. The hormone replacement can also improve the general mental condition of the sufferer. The most important part of this therapy, however, is the fact that it can reduce the infertility. There are several ways in which the replacement therapy can be performed in the case of those who suffer from Hypogonadism: hormone injection, a patch, the usage of gel or oral administration. The hormone injection is the safest way in which the replacement therapy can be performed; these injections can even be given at home by a family member. On the other hand, the sufferer can choose a patch which contains sexual hormones; this patch should be applied every night on the sufferer’s arm, back, thigh or abdomen. For better effects, the area where the patch is applied should be changed at intervals of seven days, for reducing the possibility of the appearance of skin lesions or other side effects. The hormone gel which can be used in order to treat Hypogonadism is applied directly on the skin; when the gel dries, the organism will absorb the hormones. This type of the therapy is highly recommended as it causes fewer side effects than the patches; however, one possible complication which can appear is the transferring of the gel to another person. In order to eliminate this risk, the sufferer can cover the area where he applied the gel until it is completely dried. The oral administration of hormones in order to treat Hypogonadism is not usually recommended as it can affect other organs and it can result in severe complication; the most common problems which can appear are heart failure, liver failure or an increase of the testosterone level. The hormone supplements can also be administrated directly in the buccal cavity; when the substance is exposed to saliva it turns into a gel.