Male hypogonadism
Male hypogonadism is a condition in which the body doesn't produce enough of the hormone that plays a key role in masculine growth and development during puberty (Testosterone), or enough sperm (Spermatozoa), or both. You may be born with male hypogonadism, or it can develop later in life from injury or infection.
Symptoms[edit | edit source]
The signs and symptoms depend on when hypogonadism develops and how much testosterone is present.
Before birth[edit | edit source]
If the body doesn't produce enough testosterone during fetal development, the result may be impaired growth of the external sex organs. Depending on when hypogonadism develops and how much testosterone is present, a child who is genetically male may be born with:
- Female genitals
- Ambiguous genitals — genitals that are neither clearly male nor clearly female
- Underdeveloped male genitals
During puberty[edit | edit source]
Male hypogonadism may delay puberty or cause incomplete or lack of normal development. It can cause:
- Decreased development of muscle mass
- Lack of deepening of the voice
- Impaired growth of body hair
- Impaired growth of the penis and testicles
- Excessive growth of the arms and legs in relation to the trunk of the body
- Development of breast tissue (gynecomastia)
In adult males[edit | edit source]
In adult males, hypogonadism may alter certain masculine physical characteristics and impair normal reproductive function. Signs and symptoms may include:
- Erectile dysfunction
- Infertility
- Decrease in beard and body hair growth
- Decrease in muscle mass
- Development of breast tissue (gynecomastia)
- Loss of bone mass (Osteoporosis)
Causes[edit | edit source]
Male hypogonadism can be caused by a testicular disorder or a pituitary disorder.
Testicular disorder[edit | edit source]
This may occur as a result of:
- Klinefelter syndrome
- Undescended testicles
- Mumps orchitis
- Hemochromatosis
- Injury to the testicles
- Cancer treatment
Pituitary disorder[edit | edit source]
Certain conditions can interfere with the function of the hypothalamus or pituitary gland. This can result in low or absent testosterone.
Treatment[edit | edit source]
Treatment for male hypogonadism depends on the cause and whether you're concerned about fertility.
Hormone replacement[edit | edit source]
For hypogonadism caused by testicular failure, doctors use male hormone replacement (Androgen replacement therapy). This can restore sexual function and muscle strength and prevent bone loss.
Assisted reproduction[edit | edit source]
In some cases, sperm can still be produced but not released in the semen. In this case, fertility specialists can collect sperm directly from the testicles for artificial insemination.
See also[edit | edit source]
Male hypogonadism Resources | |
---|---|
|
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD