Hypogonadism: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

Hypogonadismoccurs when the body's sex glands produce little or no hormones. In men, these glands (gonads) are the testes. In women, these glandsare the ovaries.

The cause of hypogonadismis primary or central. In primary hypogonadism, the ovaries or testes themselves do not function properly. Causes of primary hypogonadism include:

The most common genetic disorders that cause primary hypogonadism are Turner syndrome (in women) and Klinefelter syndrome (in men).

In central hypogonadism, the centers in the brain that control the gonads (hypothalamus and pituitary) do not function properly. Causes of central hypogonadism include:

A genetic cause of central hypogonadism that also takes away the sense of smell is Kallmann syndrome in males. The most common tumors affecting the pituitary are craniopharyngioma in children and prolactinoma in adults.

Girls who have hypogonadism will not begin menstruating. Hypogonadism can affect breast development and height in girls. If hypogonadism occurs after puberty, symptoms include:

In boys, hypogonadism affects muscle and beard development and leads to growth problems. In men the symptoms are:

If a brain tumor is present (central hypogonadism), there may be:

People with anorexia nervosa who diet to the point of starvation and those who lose a lot of weight very quickly, such as after gastric bypass surgery, may also have central hypogonadism.

Tests may be done that check:

Link:
Hypogonadism: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

Word Count: 222