Insufficient testosterone production by the testicles is a medical condition referred to as testosterone deficiency. This condition, also known as hypogonadism, can cause physical, mental and behavioral changes in affected men. Men should discuss the potential causes of testosterone deficiency with a doctor for further information and guidance.
Klinefelter Syndrome
Testosterone deficiency can be caused by Klinefelter syndrome, a genetic condition in which an affected male is born with an extra X chromosome. Approximately one in every 500 men has this syndrome, according to The Endocrine Society. Though many boys born with Klinefelter syndrome do not develop symptoms, symptomatic patients can experience physical development delays as a consequence of low testosterone levels. Young men with this condition typically grow to be taller than boys in their age group and have significantly less muscle mass and facial or body hair growth. Testosterone deficiency caused by Klinefelter syndrome also results in infertility in nearly all men with this condition.
Testicular Complications
Men who have medical problems that affect the testicles can experience testosterone deficiency. In healthy men, the testicles act to produce testosterone as well as store and produce sperm. At birth, certain boys may have undescended testicles. This occurs when the testicles remain within the abdomen rather than dropping into the scrotum, which leads to lower-than-normal testosterone production by the testicles. Testicular trauma or mumps infection can also cause testosterone deficiency in affected men, MayoClinic.com warns. These events impact the way in which the testicles normally function, resulting in low testosterone production.
Hemochromatosis
Hemochromatosis, a condition characterized by unusually high levels of iron within the body, can cause testosterone deficiency in men, the Cleveland Clinic reports. Iron can disrupt normal testicular function, causing poor testosterone production.
Chemotherapy or Radiation
Cancer treatment strategies, such as chemotherapy or radiation, can inadvertently damage or destroy cells within a man's testicles. When this occurs, the testicles can't function normally, leading to testosterone deficiency. In most cases, this consequence of cancer therapy resolves once chemotherapy or radiation treatment ends, MayoClinic.com reports. Men can experience permanent infertility following chemotherapy or radiation.
Natural Aging
The loss of testosterone is a normal part of getting older. The progressive decline of testosterone levels can begin as early as age 30. Nearly a quarter of men over the age of 75 have testosterone deficiency, according to the University of California Los Angeles.
References
- The Endocrine Society: Current Challenges and Future Opportunities in the Treatment of Testosterone Deficiency in Men
- Cleveland Clinic: Testosterone Replacement Therapy
- University of California Los Angeles: Testosterone Deficiency
- MayoClinic.com: Male Hypogonadism
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development: Klinefelter Syndrome
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