Male hypogonadism in children

[Oralee]

Hypogonadism is decreased production of testosterone , sperm, or both in males.

Hypogonadism occurs when there is a problem in the testes or a problem in the pituitary gland or the hypothalamus (which signal the testes to produce testosterone and sperm).
Symptoms vary depending at which age the testosterone deficiency begins.
The diagnosis is based on an examination, blood tests, and sometimes an analysis of the chromosomes.
Treatment depends on the cause but may include hormone therapy.

The pituitary gland secretes the hormones follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone, which are called gonadotropins. These gonadotropins stimulate the male sex organs to produce the male sex hormone testosterone and the testes to produce sperm. When testosterone is lacking, growth and sexual development may be slow, sperm production is low, and the penis may be small.
Hypogonadism can occur while a fetus is developing in the womb or can occur during early or later childhood.
There are two basic types of hypogonadism:

Primary hypogonadism: The testes are underactive and do not produce enough testosterone .
Secondary hypogonadism: The hypothalamus or pituitary gland does not secrete the hormones that stimulate the testes.

[Marquetta]

Male hypogonadism is decreased production of testosterone , sperm, or both or, rarely, decreased response to testosterone , resulting in delayed puberty, reproductive insufficiency, or both. Diagnosis is by measurement of serum testosterone , luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone and by stimulation tests with human chorionic gonadotropin or gonadotropin-releasing hormone. Treatment depends on the cause.
(See also Male Hypogonadism in adults.)