treatment
Hypogonadism occurs when the sex glands produce very small amounts of sex hormones or stop producing them altogether. The sex glands - also called the gonads - are primarily the testicles in men and the ovaries in women. Sex hormones contribute to and control secondary sexual characteristics, such as the development and growth of female breasts, testicular development in men and the growth of pubic hair, and also play a role in the menstrual cycle (the menstrual cycle) and in the production of sperm.
Hypogonadism is also known as hypogonadism or hypogonadism, and it may be called low serum testosterone levels or an ause (a period of a man''s life during which testosterone begins to decline) when it occurs in men. Most cases respond well when appropriate medical treatment is applied.
What are the patterns of hypogonadism?
There are two types of hypogonadism: primary (primary) and central (secondary).
Primary hypogonadism
Means that the patient does not have enough sex hormones in his body Because of a problem with his gonads. The gonads are still receiving messages and commands from the brain to produce hormones, but they are unable to do so.
Secondary hypogonadism
The problem here is in the brain The hypothalamus and pituitary gland - which control the gonads - do not function properly. (The hypothalamus or hypothalamus: is an area in the brain that controls any involuntary nervous system).
What are the causes of hypogonadism?
Causes of primary hypogonadism include
Autoimmune disorders, such as Addison''s disease and hypoparathyroidism (hypoparathyroidism).
Genetic disorders, such as Turner syndrome and Klinefelter syndrome.
Infection and severe infections, especially mumps when it affects the testicles.
Diseases of the liver and kidneys.
Undescended testicle (migratory testicle).
Hemochromatosis, a genetic disorder that causes the body to absorb too much iron and store it in various organs of the body.
Exposure to radiation.
Performing surgical operations on the sexual organs.
Causes of secondary hypogonadism include
Genetic disorders, such as Kallmann''s syndrome, (an anomalous development of the hypothalamus, in which a lack of sexual function occurs with a lack of smell).
Infections and infections, such as infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Disorders of the pituitary gland.
Inflammatory diseases, such as sarcoidosis, tuberculosis and histiocytosis.
Obesity.
Rapid weight loss.
Food deficiency.
Use of corticosteroids or opioids.
Brain surgery.
Exposure to radiation.
Damage to the pituitary gland or hypothalamus.
A tumor in or near the pituitary gland.
What are the symptoms of hypogonadism?
Symptoms in females include
Lack of menstruation or menstruation.
Slow or no growth in the breasts.
Hot flashes (a sudden hotness that women experience during menopause).
Loss of body hair.
Reduced or absent sexual arousal and desire.
Emptying (flush) of the milky breasts.
How is hypogonadism diagnosed?
The doctor will conduct a clinical examination to make sure that your sexual development is appropriate for your age, as he will examine your muscle mass, strength, and the extent of your body hair growth, in addition to examining your sexual organs.
Hormonal tests and checks
Your doctor will first check your levels of sex hormones if he thinks you have hypogonadism. You will need to check the level of FSH and luteinizing hormone (LH) in the blood that are produced by the pituitary gland.
The doctor will check the level of the female hormone estrogen and male testosterone.
These checks and tests are done in the early morning when hormone levels are high.
In male patients, the doctor may also request a semen analysis to check their sperm count, as hypogonadism can reduce the number.
The doctor may also order more blood tests to help him find the cause and confirm the diagnosis. To rule out other possible causes.
High levels of iron in the blood can affect sex hormones, for this reason the doctor will check the level of iron, which is usually elevated in hemochromatosis.
The doctor may also want to measure the level of the hormone prolactin in the blood, which is the hormone that promotes the growth and development of the breasts and the production of milk in women, but it is also found in males.
Thyroid problems can cause hypogonadism-like symptoms, so your doctor may order a check for hormone levels in this gland.
Imaging tests and examinations
Imaging tests can be useful in making the diagnosis, as ultrasound (echo) imaging is used to examine the ovaries in women and make sure that there are no problems with them, such as the presence of ovarian cysts or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
Your doctor may also order a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computerized tomography (CT) scan to check for tumors in the pituitary gland.
What is the treatment for hypogonadism?
In females, treatment involves administering amounts of female sex hormones.
The first line of treatment for a woman who has had a hysterectomy is most often the hormone estrogen, either through skin patches that release the hormone or by birth control pills that contain it.
For a woman who has not had her uterus removed, giving estrogen hormone alone and continuously will increase the risk of endometrial cancer, so the doctor will prescribe a combination of estrogen and progesterone. * Since the hormone progesterone reduces the risk of this cancer.
Other treatments target specific symptoms. For example, low libido can be treated with low doses of testosterone.
Women who suffer from irregular menstruation or difficulty getting pregnant can be given injections of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin HCG or pills containing FSH to induce ovulation.
treatment
Treatment for hypogonadism in males and females is similar if the cause is a tumor in the pituitary gland.
