Table of contents:
- Hypogonadism is a hormone disorder in both men and women
- What are the causes of hypogonadism?
- 1. Primary hypogonadism
- 2. Secondary hypogonadism
- Signs and symptoms of hypogonadism
- What to do?
You have fertility problems? It is possible that you have been experiencing hypogonadism. Hypogonadism is a sex hormone disorder that can affect fertility. So, what is hypogonadism and what causes it? Check out the complete information below.
Hypogonadism is a hormone disorder in both men and women
Yes, both men and women can experience hypogonadism. Hypogonadism is a condition when the sex glands or gonads, namely the testes in men and the ovaries in women, produce very little or no sex hormones. This condition is often associated as a cause of andropause in men and menopause in women, although this is not always the case.
Hypogonadism can be congenital, but it can also be experienced by someone who was infected or injured as an adult. If this happens from birth, the development of the reproductive organs of a boy or girl will be hampered when he enters puberty. Meanwhile, if the new hypogonadism occurs as an adult, then you need to be vigilant because this can reduce libido and trigger fertility problems.
What are the causes of hypogonadism?
Judging from the most common causes, hypogonadism is divided into two types, namely:
1. Primary hypogonadism
You are said to have primary hypogonadism if your sex organs (testes or ovaries) are affected. The sex organs can still receive signals from the brain to produce hormones, but the testes or ovaries themselves are no longer able to produce hormones.
This type of hypogonadism can be caused by certain diseases that make the sex organs malfunctioning. Examples are autoimmune diseases such as hypoparathyroidism, inherited diseases such as Turner syndrome, lumps in the testicles, kidney and liver disorders, undescended testicles, radiation exposure, or testicular surgery.
2. Secondary hypogonadism
Secondary hypogonadism is a hormone disorder that results from problems with the hypothalamus or pituitary gland, the two parts of the brain that produce hormones. If the main source is problematic, then of course no signal is sent to produce sex hormones.
Just like before, this type of hypogonadism can also be caused by certain diseases that make the work of the hypothalamus or pituitary gland in the brain disturbed. For example HIV infection, tuberculosis, obesity, drastic weight loss, malnutrition, surgery on the brain, and brain injury.
Signs and symptoms of hypogonadism
Apart from ensuring the menstrual cycle and sperm production go well, sex hormones also help control the physical growth of men and women.
In men, this sex hormone helps maintain muscle mass, bone mass and hair growth. Meanwhile, in women, sex hormones help develop breast tissue when entering puberty.
However, if sex hormones are produced very little or not at all, this will cause signs and symptoms of hypogonadism. Basically, the symptoms of hypogonadism in men and women are not much different.
In men, signs and symptoms of hypogonadism are:
- Little or no body hair grows
- Reduced muscle mass
- Enlarged chest like breasts (gynecomastia)
- Impaired growth of the penis and testes
- Erectile dysfunction
- Osteoporosis
- Decreased sexual desire
- Fertility problems
- Hot flashesor feeling hot
- Difficulty concentrating
Whereas in women, the signs and symptoms of hypogonadism are:
- Menstrual disorders to cause menopause
- Stunted breast growth
- Hot flashesor feeling hot
- Decreased sexual desire
- Milk-like discharge from the breast
If you experience one or more of the symptoms above, you should immediately consult a doctor to determine the cause.
What to do?
The most important key to dealing with hypogonadism is to detect the symptoms as early as possible. The sooner you notice the symptoms, the sooner your doctor will treat you. That way, you can avoid the risk of fertility problems if you don't treat them quickly.
Treatment of hypogonadism tends to vary from person to person, depending on age and how severe the hormone disruption is. But usually, doctors will recommend testosterone therapy (TRT) in men or estrogen therapy in women as a first step to increase the production of sex hormones in the body.
Not only to "provoke" sex hormones in the body, this hormone therapy is also useful for stimulating sexual arousal, increasing bone mass, and improving moods that have been disturbed by hypogonadism.
Just like other therapies, the addition of this hormone actually carries a number of risks to health. Excess hormones in the body can increase the risk of prostate cancer, uterine cancer, heart failure, and acute insomnia. Therefore, always consult a doctor to get the right treatment for your hypogonadism.
