Hypogonadism, treatment – Specialist outpatient clinics Medical Clinic Podhale Art. Welcome!

Testicular hormonal failure is also referred to as primary male hypogonadism or hypogonadism. The ailment is caused by a disorder that occurs in adolescence or maturity, such as a disorder of the testes, Sertoli or Leydig cells. The main symptoms of testicular hormonal failure include, first of all, infertility, a change in the male voice to a more female one, or gynecomastia.

Hormonal failure of the testicles (hypogonadism) can take the form of, for example:

• complete – then there is a simultaneous hypothyroidism of Sertoli and Leydig cells (this causes an excess of lutropin and follitropin),
• partial – there is a hormonal dysfunction in Leydig cells, which leads to an excess of lutropin or a lack of Sertoli cell function.

Hormonal failure of the testicles, conditioning, among others, hypogonadism can be caused by various factors, including:

• missing or underdevelopment of the testicles (testicles),
• mechanical injuries,
• x-rays,
• acute infectious diseases (measles, gonorrhea, common parotitis, i.e. mumps) and chronic diseases (tuberculosis, syphilis, diabetes),
• chronic poisoning (alcoholism),
• inguinal hernia,
• age (aging),
• a disorder in the sex chromosomes,
• cryptorchidism,
• tumors.

Distinguishes:

• primary hormonal failure of the testicles – its cause lies in the testicles themselves,
• secondary testicular hypothyroidism – occurs when the testicles are directly damaged due to disturbances in the secretion of hormones (hypothalamus or pituitary gland).

Hypogonadism can also be a symptom of aging and menopause (andropause) and can appear after the age of 50.

The characteristic symptoms of hypogonadism in men are, for example:

• lack of sexual maturation,
• lack of typical armpit or perineal hair,
• small penis size,
• reduction of libido,
• no voice mutation, slight facial hair,
• tall with characteristically long limbs, narrow hips, narrow shoulders and often enlarged mammary glands.

More importantly – the treatment of the disease involves the long-term intake of pharmaceutical hormonal preparations – testosterone and gonadotropins. Additionally, pharmacological treatment may be supported by a surgical procedure to remove the testicle (if there is only one fault in the injury). In addition, a healthy testicle usually replaces a damaged or removed testicle in fulfilling its functions.

Hypogonadism, treatment – Specialist outpatient clinics Medical Clinic Podhale Art, Chramcówki 7, tel: +48 570 401 401