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Aetiology

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

There are four aetiological classes of hypogonadism in the male (1):

  • primary hypogonadism - ie hypogonadism due to testicular failure
    • congenital primary gonadal disease
    • acquired primary gonadal disease

  • secondary hypogonadism - may be due to reduced gonadotrophins due to hypothalamic-pituitary disease
    • congenital e.g. Kallman's syndrome
    • secondary e.g. pituitary tumours
    • reversible secondary hypogonadism may also be the result of systemic illness e.g. (end-stage respiratory or renal disease), obesity, hyperprolactinaemia, long-term excessive exercise (1), poor nutritional status, supraphysiological doses of steroids, drugs (spironolactone, ketoconazole, marijuana)

Reference:

  • 1. DTB 1999; 37 (1): 3-6.

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