Adrenal hyperplasia is a genetic condition that may affect males or females. It causes the adrenal glands, located just above the kidneys, to produce abnormally high levels of sex hormones--androgens--and cortisol--a stress-related hormone. Dr....
The adrenal glands are an important part of the endocrine system. One important hormone that they make, cortisol, has profound effects on the body's metabolism, bone density and its ability to heal. Patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia...
When hypogonadism occurs in your baby, it is most often discovered at birth. This is particularly true for boys. Lack of testosterone while in the womb impacts the fetal development of the sex organs. If your newborn has ambiguous genitalia,...
Hormonal imbalances can affect any age group, but they cause an additional element of concern when they arise in those who are still growing. The symptoms of an imbalance of hormones can manifest in a variety of ways. A child's anatomical...
Congenital diseases refer to diseases that are present at birth. Sometimes, the congenital condition affects a certain body part or is an inherited condition that affects growth and development. Congenital diseases are typically present at birth,...
The adrenal glands secrete hormones that have various functions. They make and release corticosteroids, catecholamines, mineralocorticoids and androgens. These hormones affect blood pressure, fluid balance, electrolyte balance, immune response and...
Primary amenorrhea is a condition in which menstruation is absent, according to MedlinePlus. This absence may or may not occur in the presence of puberty. Sometimes, underlying medical diseases can lead to primary amenorrhea. Fortunately, most of...
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, or CAH, is a genetic condition that affects the adrenal glands in newborns. Specifically, the adrenal glands do not produce enough cortisol or aldosterone, which are hormones necessary for stress response and blood...
Adrenal hyperplasia, which is more commonly referred to as congenital adrenal hyperplasia, is a genetic disorder that affects the normal function of the adrenal gland. Adrenal hyperplasia symptoms typically arise during early childhood, though...
Every human being has 46 chromosomes, including two chromosomes (X ,Y) that determine gender. The Y chromosome is unique to males. Inheriting an X chromosome from the mother and a Y chromosome from the father makes the child male. Because the Y...
The small but mighty adrenal glands produce a host of hormones that influence the health of both men and women. These glands are located at the top of the kidneys. The adrenal glands have two main parts, the outer cortex, which itself is divided...
Gynecomastia refers to a condition of abnormal swelling in a man's breast tissue. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, gynecomastia can develop in one or both breasts and can create a sense of extreme embarrassment. The Mayo...
Intersex problems, such as pseudohermaphroditism, true hermaphroditism or complex intersex disorders, may present at birth with clinical signs of ambiguous genitalia or may develop later as hormonal insufficiencies during puberty. Historically,...
The adrenal glands produce three types of steroid hormones: corticosteroids ("stress hormones"), androgens and mineralocorticoids. Steroid production occurs in steps; for example, progesterone can be made into the corticosteroids cortisol or...
Excessive hair growth, called hirsutism, can cause enormous embarrassment to young girls. Hirsutism is most often caused by an excess of male hormones, called androgens. Hair often grows in more typical male hair growth patterns in hirsutism, with...
Hormones are chemical substances in the body that regulate biological activities such as metabolism, growth, reproduction, and energy and nutrient levels. Produced by the glands of the endocrine system, hormones are susceptible to many forms of...
Testosterone is a hormone produced by the testes in men and by the adrenal gland in men and women. It gives people characteristically male features, and it is typically not produced in excess in women. Two diseases in which is is produced in...
Testosterone is a sex hormone produced by the testicles in men. Unusually low levels of testosterone in the body, a condition called testosterone deficiency or hypogonadism, can occur for a number of reasons, including normal aging, stress or...
The adrenal glands are located at the tops of both kidneys and are responsible for producing hormones that regulate fluid and electrolyte balances and blood pressure levels. Several medical conditions affect these glands and can cause hormone...
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), "intersex [hermaphrodite] is a group of conditions where there is a discrepancy between the external genitals and the internal genitals [the testes and ovaries.]" Hermaphrodite is derived from...
Acampomelic campomelic dysplasia (ACD) is a rare genetic syndrome. A form of campomelic dysplasia, ACD has the same features, except for bowing of the long bones. Features of the syndrome become apparent prenatally, or just after birth. ACD can be...
Many genetic disorders are associated with reproductive problems. Genetic disorders are caused by spontaneous gene mutations or by inherited genes. Inherited genes can be recessive--which means that both parents must pass on the gene for a child...