Overview Of Hypogonadism

Hypogonadism Defined

Male hypogonadism is a clinical syndrome resulting from a failure of the testes to produce physiological levels of testosterone (androgen deficiency), sperm, or both, because of disruption of one or more levels of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis¹. Hypogonadism can occur in men of any age, however, there is a progressive decline in testosterone levels as men age. Late-onset hypogonadism (LOH; age-related hypogonadism) is a clinical and biochemical syndrome associated with advancing age and characterized by symptoms and a deficiency in serum testosterone levels below the young healthy adult male reference range of approximately 10–35 nmol/L (300–1000 ng/dL).^2,3

Unlike the clearly defined decrease in hormone levels associated with female menopause, the decline in androgen levels with advancing age in men is gradual and variable, and the late-onset hypogonadism is more appropriate than the colloquial terms “male menopause” or “andropause” to refer to the annual decrease in testosterone levels of 0.5% to 2% which occur with advancing age, independent of chronic conditions associated with aging.⁴

References:
1. Bhasin S, Cunningham GR, Hayes FJ, et al. Testosterone therapy in adult men with androgen deficiency syndromes: an endocrine society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2006; 91(6): 1995-2010.
2. Wang, C., E. Nieschlag, R. Swerdloff, et al. Investigation, treatment and monitoring of late-onset hypogonadism in males: ISA, ISSAM, EAU, EAA and ASA recommendations. Eur J Endocrinol 2008, 159(5): 507-514.
3. Larsen P, Kronenburg H, Melmed S, et al. William's Textbook of endocrinology, reference values. Philadelphia, PA, USA: Saunders; 2002.
4. Seftel AD. Male hypogonadism. Part I: Epidemiology of hypogonadism. Int J Impot Res 2006; 18(2): 115-20

Hypogonadism

Congresses

Overview Of Hypogonadism

Hypogonadism Defined