Definition: Hypogonadism means the sex glands (the testes in men, the ovaries in women) make little or no hormone. MedlinePlus splits it into primary hypogonadism, where the testes or ovaries themselves do not work properly, and central or secondary hypogonadism, where the brain centers that control them (the hypothalamus and pituitary) do not send the right signals.
| Type | Where the problem is | Example causes |
|---|---|---|
| Primary hypogonadism | The testes (testicular failure) | Klinefelter syndrome, injury, radiation, surgery, infection |
| Hypogonadotropic (central) hypogonadism | The pituitary or hypothalamus | Opioid or glucocorticoid medicines, stopping anabolic steroids, rapid weight loss, pituitary bleeding |
These labels say safety and effectiveness have not been established for "age-related" (late-onset) hypogonadism. hCG labels such as Pregnyl are approved for selected cases of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in males.
The testosterone labels say hypogonadism is confirmed before starting by morning serum testosterone measured on at least two separate days, with both results below the normal range. The LH and FSH levels help tell the two types apart, because they show whether the brain is sending its signal.
Lab dates, draw times and results sit at the center of the diagnosis. Keeping each result with the time of day it was drawn, and the date of the last dose once treatment starts, makes later results easier to compare.
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