Please note - this EPG Men's health Knowledge Centre is for Doctors and other Health Care Professionals.

Male hypogonadism is the term used to describe decreased functional activity of the testes with diminished production and action of testosterone. Three different categories of hypogonadism are distinguished depending on the organs or organ systems responsible for the disturbance. These are:

• Primary hypogonadism (hypergonadotropic hypogonadism)
• Secondary hypogonadism (hypogonadotropic hypogonadism)
• Target organ resistance (androgen resistance)

The clinical picture of hypogonadism depends on whether the androgen deficiency occurs during the fetal period, before puberty or in adulthood.

Hypogonadism can be caused by a number of disorders, the most frequently observed being idiopathic hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism, hypopituitarism, Klinefelter’s syndrome or late-onset hypogonadism.

Hypogonadism is a clinical condition characterized by low serum testosterone levels occurring in association with a number of the signs and symptoms.  If  symptoms  of  testosterone  deficiency  are  present,  the  doctor will investigate them using various diagnostic procedures.

In all forms of male hypogonadism, androgen therapy forms the core of the treatment. If there is a desire for fertility it may be necessary to temporarily interrupt the treatment and use other procedures instead.

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Home | Hypogonadism | Epidemiology | Etiology | Physiology and Pathophysiology | Biologic Effects of Androgens | Rationale for Therapy | Late-onset Hypogonadism (LOH) | Symptoms | Diagnosis of hypogonadism | Therapy Options | Initiating Treatment | Monitoring | Safety and Tolerability | Clinical Trials/Studies | Reviews | Algorithm | Patient Questionanaire and Evaluation Sheet