Hypogonadism
When your sex glands are not producing the proper amount of hormones or have stopped producing hormones altogether, it is called hypogonadism. In men, this hormone, testosterone, is pivotal to your growth and development during puberty. Hypogonadism can develop at any stage of life and symptoms vary with age and gender. Some risk factors include HIV or AIDS, testicular tumors, testicular injuries, and chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
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- Q How do other illnesses affect secondary hypogonadism?
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Two diseases, HIV/AIDS and anorexia nervosa, have the greatest effect on secondary hypogonadism. This is because both of these diseases can trigger the onset of hypogonadism through the way they affect certain parts of the brain. Tumors caused by cancer... Full Answer
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- Q How is secondary hypogonadism diagnosed?
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Secondary hypogonadism is diagnosed with a series of blood tests. Primarily, the tests will look at the level of testosterone (for men) or estrogen (for women) in the blood. Abnormally low levels may indicate hypogonadism. Other tests will look at levels... Full Answer
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- Q How common is secondary hypogonadism?
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The total number of people affected by secondary hypogonadism is unclear. It has been proposed that the condition is underdiagnosed. No hard numbers exist, although it is thought that, for example one to two percent of all male infertility cases can be... Full Answer
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- Q Can secondary hypogonadism be prevented?
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Aside from avoiding rapid weight loss, there's little that can be done to prevent secondary hypogonadism. This is because most of the causes of secondary hypogonadism are due to outside influences, such as infection, aging, or injury. Aside from taking... Full Answer
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- Q What causes secondary hypogonadism?
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Secondary hypogonadism is caused by a problem in certain centers of the brain that interact with the gonads. Those centers are the pituitary and hypothalamus, and defects or diseases such as tumors in either center can trigger hypogonadism because the... Full Answer
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- Q What is secondary hypogonadism?
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Hypogonadism describes a condition in which the sex glands do not produce a normal or sufficient amount of hormones. The condition can affect both men and women; the hormones and glands involved vary by sex. In men, the glands are the testes, or... Full Answer
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- Q Is secondary hypogonadism serious?
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Secondary hypogonadism is serious insofar as it can have a significant impact on quality of life and sexual health. The earlier it develops, the more serious it is; in children and adolescents, because it affects onset of puberty, it can cause noticeable... Full Answer
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- Q How do other illnesses affect primary hypogonadism?
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Illnesses in the vicinity of the gonads can trigger the onset of primary hypogonadism, as can genetic disorders. Tumors, liver and kidney disease, or an infection of the gonads themselves can all disrupt normal secretion of hormones. Genetic disorders... Full Answer
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- Q How do the hypothalamus and pituitary affect congenital hypogonadism?
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Congenital hypogonadism can be either primary, originating in the gonads, or secondary, originating in certain parts of the brain. These centers are the hypothalamus and pituitary, and are linked to production of hormones in the gonads. When those parts... Full Answer
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- Q What increases my risk for congenital hypogonadism?
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Risk of congenital hypogonadism is largely a factor of genetics and family history. A history of Klinefelter syndrome in the family, for example, will dramatically increase the risk of a male child being born with congenital hypogonadism. If you are... Full Answer
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