Anuradha Varanasi
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Testosterone, which is known as the male sex hormone, is produced by the testicles and is mainly responsible for a man s sexual and reproductive development. Other than this, it also plays an important role in maintaining the muscles and fat distribution.
Men who suffer from low testosterone or what is known as male hypogonadism have a low quality of life as they suffer from symptoms such as low libido, erectile dysfunction, hot flashes, lower sperm count, hair loss, osteoporosis, and even increased breast size [1]. The good news is that male hypogonadism can be treated with testosterone replacement therapy.
There are two types of hypogonadism known as primary and secondary. In primary hypogonadism or what is also referred to as primary testicular failure, the problem originates in the testicles [1]. A patient suffering from secondary hypogonadism has a problem in the hypothalamus or the pituitary gland. This is the part of the brain that is responsible for signaling the testicles to produce testosterone [1].
Over the years, studies have found that these are the six common causes of primary hypogonadism:
1. Undescended testicles
Undescended testicles is a condition in which a male child s testicles are unable to drop into the normal place in the scrotum during early stages of development. In some cases, both of the testicles might not descend at birth. Normally, this condition corrects itself without any treatment in the first few years. However, if that s not the case and it isn t treated on time, it can affect the production of testosterone and cause male hypogonadism [1].
2. Hemachromatosis
Hemochromatosis is a condition that causes iron overload or excessive amounts of iron that can harm internal organs and cause testicular failure or pituitary gland dysfunction, among other major diseases [1].
3. Injury to the testicles
Many men can suffer from an injury to the testicles because of sports or accidents. An injured testicle can impair testosterone production and lead to primary hypogonadism [1].
4. Cancer treatment
Patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation can face issues with testosterone and sperm production [1]. Studies have found that hypogonadism was seen in 30% of the men with cancer and in some cases, infertility caused by cancer treatment could also be permanent though many men regain their fertility a few months after undergoing chemotherapy.
5. Mumps orchitis
Mumps orchitis is an infection of the testicles and could be caused by both, a virus or bacteria. While usually the mumps infection affects only one of the testicles, in some cases it can affect both. This can impair testosterone production and cause primary hypogonadism [1].
6. Ageing
As men age, the body tends to produce lower levels of testosterone as compared to younger men [1]. In fact, the American Association of Endocrinologists estimates that 30% of men above the age of 75 have testosterone levels which are way below normal.
While the above six points are the most common causes of primary hypogonadism, endocrinologists have found that these are the six causes of secondary hypogonadism:
1. Pituitary disorder
Your pituitary gland is largely responsible for producing hormones and can directly affect the growth and functioning of other glands. Pituitary disorders like hypothyroidism, cushing s disease, among others can have an effect on testosterone levels [1]. Other than this a pituitary tumour or worse, brain tumour that is located next to the pituitary gland can cause hypogonadism.
2. Inflammatory diseases
Common inflammatory diseases such as tuberculosis, sarcoidosis which is the growth of inflammatory cells in different parts of the body can cause secondary hypogonadism [1].
3. HIV/AIDS
The HIV virus could not only wreck havoc with your immune system but also reduces testosterone levels as it is known to affect the testes, pituitary and hypothalamus , a portion of the brain[1].
4. Medications
Certain pain relief medications that contain opiates and hormones can result in secondary hypogonadism [1].
5. Obesity
Your weight and unhealthy lifestyle can be directly responsible for male hypogonadism. Several studies have found an association between obesity and male hypogonadism [1]. Did you know, men are more prone to obesity than women?
6. Stress
Emotional stress, extreme weight loss and even faulty lifestyle habits like exercising too much can backfire and cause male hypogonadism [1].
Reference:
[1] Kumar P, Kumar N, Thakur DS, Patidar A. Male hypogonadism: Symptoms and treatment. Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology & Research. 2010;1(3):297-301. doi:10.4103/0110-5558.72420
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