3 Ways to Identify Hypogonadism

1. Check for Symptoms

Hypogonadism is a condition in which the body's sex glands fail to produce enough hormones. It can either occur before birth or develop later in life, and it is more common in males than in females. The normal symptoms of hypogonadism vary by sex and depending on when they first show up. Identifying hypogonadism in a newborn boy is usually fairly easy and can be done at birth. If your son has hypogonadism, you will usually be able to see an abnormal formation of the sex organs caused by a lack of testosterone. Your child may have undescended testes, underdeveloped genitals, ambiguous genitals or female genitals despite being genetically male. Newborn girls with hypogonadism may also have abnormally developed genitalia. The extent of your child's genital malformation depends on when the hypogonadism occurred during gestation and how low your child's hormone levels are.

When hypogonadism develops later in life, it often occurs around puberty. In boys, it can impair growth of body hair and sex organs, diminish muscle mass development, trigger breast tissue growth, prevent the voice from lowering and cause disproportionate growth in the limbs. In girls, the primary symptom is usually failure to begin menstruation (amenorrhea), though failure to develop breast tissue may also occur. If you notice your child is not progressing through puberty like other children of the same age, hypogonadism may be a concern.

When hypogonadism develops in adulthood, usually problems with reproductive functioning such as erectile dysfunction, infertility and abnormal amenorrhea occur. In addition, men may experience a feminization of their bodies and symptoms similar to menopause, such as hot flashes, fatigue, irritability and depression.

2. Test Hormone Levels

In order to be diagnosed with hypogonadism, your child's hormone levels need to be tested: testosterone in males and estrogen in females. This is primarily done through blood tests. Because hormone levels fluctuate throughout the day, these tests may be repeated for accuracy or given in the morning. If your child's hormone levels are found to be low, additional testing is usually required to make a complete diagnosis.

3. Identify the Type of Hypogonadism Present

There are two types of hypogonadism, primary and secondary, and identifying which one your child has is an important part of finding the right treatment. Primary hypogonadism is caused by a problem with either the testicles or the ovaries. Secondary hypogonadism occurs because of a problem with either the hypothalamus or pituitary gland, both of which are located in the brain. The hypothalamus and pituitary gland are responsible for signaling the body to produce hormones.

4. Determine the Cause of the Condition

There are numerous causes of hypogonadism. In most cases, however, a congenital disorder such as Klinefelter's syndrome in males or Turner's syndrome in females is the culprit. Additionally, it may be caused by a tumor or lesion on the hypothalamus or pituitary gland, certain medications, a mumps infection, injury to the testicles and several other factors. Your doctor may use pituitary imaging, testicular biopsy, semen analysis, ultrasound and other tests to pinpoint a diagnosis.