Hypogonadism: Characteristics and Signs That Can Affect Our Quality of Life

A person’s health status is determined from the womb, when all organs, including sexual organs, develop. There are also situations where certain genetic defects are transmitted from parents to the fetus, while other deficiencies occur during life. Besides these, aging also plays an important role in the deterioration of reproductive function. All these characteristics can also occur in the case of a condition called hypogonadism.

What is hypogonadism? It is a disease that affects the production of sex hormones. These are produced by the testicles in men and by the ovaries in women. Thus, the condition is closely related to the incorrect functioning of the two sexual glands, also known as gonads.

Why does it occur? The disease can set in for several reasons. It can be acquired as a result of other conditions or an unhealthy lifestyle, but it can also be inherited. One of the important aspects related to it is that it can affect our quality of life. Below, we will find out what a diagnosis of hypogonadism entails, who it affects more often, and what its characteristics are. We will also see what the available symptoms and treatment methods are.

Hypogonadism – medical definition and causes of occurrence

In simple terms, hypogonadism is the disease that affects a person’s sex hormone production. Biologically speaking, it is a condition that causes disorders in the physical development of boys and girls. The medical definition of the term involves a complex syndrome caused by low testosterone levels in men and low estrogen and progesterone levels in women. Most often, males suffer from hypogonadism.

Can this disease be prevented? In some cases, yes. More precisely, when it is not inherited from either parent. Zinc deficiency, for example, can affect sexual function. To prevent it, we can consume foods rich in this mineral, but we can also synthesize it with the help of supplements.

Among the supplements are also Zinc 25 mg tablets, which help maintain an optimal level of this mineral in the body. It supports sexual function but also has other equally important contributions. Among these, it helps us to have strong teeth, bones, and muscles.

Zinc is also effective in certain conditions, including diabetes and ADHD, reducing their symptoms. Also, a sufficient daily dose can prevent erectile dysfunction, which often leads to impotence. Supplements with a content of 25 milligrams ensure the necessary amount we need for our entire body to function correctly every day.

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Hypogonadism and its causes

Hypogonadism is a disease that can seriously affect our quality of life due to its manifestations. Thus, in men, it:

• prevents the proper development of the testicles;
• affects the growth of pubic hair;
• decreases sperm production.

In women, hypogonadism affects breast development, pubic hair growth, and causes menstrual cycle irregularities.

How does the disease occur? The causes of hypogonadism are mainly two: it can be acquired through external means or inherited.

More precisely, it can set in as a result of:

• genetic syndromes, such as Turner and Klinefelter;
• autoimmune diseases, including premature ovarian insufficiency;
• undescended testicles, which can cause testicular insufficiency;
• childhood diseases, such as mumps, which affect the gonads;
• conditions such as sarcoidosis and tuberculosis;
• liver and kidney conditions;
• infections, such as HIV;
• radiation exposure;
• surgeries on the sexual glands;
• chemotherapy, in cancer patients;
• certain tumors, such as those in the hypothalamus or pituitary gland.

In addition to these, it is also worth mentioning an unhealthy lifestyle, which can lead to obesity, nutritional deficiencies, or rapid weight loss. These harmful behaviors can affect sexual function, leading to hypogonadism. In athletes, the administration of anabolic steroids can cause dysfunction of the testicles and ovaries.

How does hypogonadism affect us and what do we feel if we face this disease? Its symptoms are visible first and foremost. They often appear during adolescence.

Hypogonadism – symptoms and types

The symptoms of hypogonadism vary depending on age and sex. Most often, they manifest in childhood, around adolescence. The exception are boys whose testicles do not descend by 9 months of age. In their case, this can be a sign of future dysfunction.

In general, hypogonadism can have the following symptoms:

• lack of growth and physical and sexual development, or their delay;
• underdevelopment of breasts and delayed onset of menstruation in girls;
• underdevelopment of testicles and penis in boys;
• loss of body hair;
• decreased or absent sex drive;
• gynecomastia, or breast enlargement in men;
• loss of muscle mass;
• impotence in men;
• infertility manifested in both sexes.

We should know that hypogonadism can be of two types. Thus, its causes and symptoms also depend on this aspect.

Types of hypogonadism

Hypogonadism can be primary and secondary. This categorization pertains more to the causes that lead to the onset of the disease.

In case of primary hypogonadism, the main triggering causes are:

• Klinefelter syndrome, which occurs in men and is caused by a multiplication of the X chromosome, leading to decreased testosterone levels and lack of testicular development;
• undescended testicles in childhood;
• infections such as orchitis and parotiditis;
• hemochromatosis, which is an elevated level of iron in the blood and affects the proper functioning of the testicles;
• injuries and trauma to the testicles.

Secondary hypogonadism occurs in the absence of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone. Most often, it is associated with dysfunctions of the hypothalamus or pituitary gland.

Its causes include:

• Kallmann syndrome, which affects both women and men, leading to improper development of a brain area that controls the pituitary gland;
• certain inflammatory diseases affecting the hypothalamus or pituitary gland;
• HIV and AIDS infections;
• certain medications that affect testosterone production, including certain painkillers.

Undiagnosed, the disease can affect us long-term. Therefore, it is one of the conditions with an impact on quality of life. Hypogonadism can lead to low self-esteem, lack of motivation, and make us feel unattractive. All these consequences can manifest in both children and adults.

Hypogonadism and the categories of people affected

Hypogonadism affects both women and men. However, males are more predisposed to the disease. One of its causes is their more disorganized lifestyle. Also, as they age, the incidence of the condition increases.

Male hypogonadism

Hypogonadism in men is the condition in which the body does not produce enough testosterone. This is the most important growth hormone for boys during puberty. In adults, however, the disease occurs when there is an imbalance in sperm production, which often leads to infertility.

Among the causes of male hypogonadism are:

• Klinefelter syndrome;
• testicles that have not descended into the scrotum, with delayed intervention to correct the problem;
• inflammation of the testicles caused by mumps;
• hemochromatosis;
• traumas.

Cancer treatments can also lead to male hypogonadism. Obesity and aging are also risk factors associated with the disease. Also in their case, it is good to know that the signs of hypogonadism also depend on when the condition sets in.

The signs of hypogonadism in men manifest as physical characteristics, including lack of facial and body hair, loss of muscle mass, and breast tissue growth. Impotence, fatigue, and decreased or absent sex drive are also part of the disease’s clinical picture. Symptoms that are not visible include infertility and even osteoporosis or decreased bone density. However, this is one of the conditions most often suffered by women.

Hypogonadism in women

Although rarer, women can also suffer from hypogonadism. As with men, the disease can set in at different ages and is accompanied by several specific symptoms. Among these, we mention the following:

• lack of menstruation;
• slowing of breast growth or even underdevelopment;
• milk-like discharge from the breasts;
• lack of body hair;
• hot flashes;
• decreased sex drive.

In women, hypogonadism can be accompanied by a series of complications, including infertility, premature menopause, and osteoporosis. As a result, very low self-esteem can lead to depression or other emotional disorders.

Hypogonadism in children

Of all age categories, children are the most affected, specifically adolescents. Most often, hypogonadism begins to manifest in pre-adolescence and puberty. Even if there is no need to worry at younger ages, the following signs may indicate possible problems:

• very late or incomplete sexual development upon reaching puberty;
• lack of menstruation and breast development in girls;
• small size of testicles and penis in boys;
• lack of voice deepening and facial hair in boys;
• short stature for the child’s age.

Both children and adults can benefit from diagnosis and treatment for hypogonadism. Thus, a normal life can be restored.

Hypogonadism – treatment methods

Hypogonadism can be treated. In some cases, other conditions such as infertility can also be avoided. To benefit from effective treatment, it must be diagnosed correctly. Several investigations can be performed for this purpose.

Tests for diagnosing hypogonadism

To receive a diagnosis for hypogonadism, a physical examination will first be performed. During this examination, the doctor will palpate the patient to see if they show signs of the disease. He will inspect muscle mass, body hair, and in the case of men, the sexual organs. Therefore, they may consult a urologist. Furthermore, a series of blood tests may be necessary. For this purpose, an endocrinological consultation is required to receive indications for the necessary investigations.

Among the laboratory tests performed for hypogonadism are:

• levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) produced by the pituitary gland;
• testosterone levels in men;
• estrogen and progesterone levels in women, as well as anti-Müllerian hormone, which indicates the degree of ovarian aging.

Other tests that can be performed are for prolactin levels in both men and women. Thyroid and iron levels tests may also be performed.

If hypogonadism is suspected to be inherited, genetic tests or imaging tests may also be performed. The latter are carried out to visualize the ovaries or testicles in order to rule out other diagnoses.

Available treatments for hypogonadism

The treatment of hypogonadism will be adapted for women and men. It will also take into account its type, so that the results are as expected.

Treatment of hypogonadism in women may consist of:

• injections with follicle-stimulating hormone and/or human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in cases of secondary hypogonadism;
• in vitro fertilization can also be performed for secondary hypogonadism to achieve pregnancy;
• estrogen therapy in the form of pills or patches is another method to treat the condition in women.

Treatment for male hypogonadism

• may involve gonadotropin hormone injections to trigger puberty in children. The same protocol can be followed by men to increase sperm production. Testosterone therapy is also useful when the disease does not involve infertility.

In the case of hypogonadism caused by tumors in the pituitary gland, surgical removal will be performed.

In conclusion, what is hypogonadism? It is a disease characterized by low production of sex hormones. It occurs when the gonads or the male and female sexual glands do not function correctly. It can be acquired either genetically, or caused by certain tumors, inflammatory diseases, trauma, but also by an unhealthy lifestyle. Both women and men can suffer from hypogonadism starting from adolescence. After diagnosis, the treatment of the disease consists of various hormone therapies, as well as procedures to stimulate the production of sex hormones for those who wish to conceive.

References:

www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/male-hypogonadism/symptoms-causes/syc-20354881

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3255409/

https://www.healthline.com/health/hypogonadism

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001195.htm

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