How is Hypogonadism Diagnostic?

Hypogonadism is a medical disorder that occurs when one’s body fails to produce enough sex hormones: testosterone in men and estrogen and progesterone in women.

Due to a lack of hormones, growth during puberty and sexual health may be affected, along with overall well-being. For any effective treatment, the diagnosis of the disorder has to be proper, which is done by combining clinical investigations with case history and laboratory analyses.

Understanding Symptoms and Patient History of Hypogonadism

Diagnosis of hypogonadism starts with an assessment of the patient’s symptoms and medical history. Symptoms in men may include decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, loss of muscle mass, and infertility.

In women, this may present as irregular menstrual cycles, hot flashes, low libido, and vaginal dryness. Both genders may also experience mood changes, a decrease in bone density, and difficulty concentrating.

Besides these signs, the doctor will also ask about developmental milestones, history of previous illnesses, surgeries, medications, and family history to find out the underlying cause.

Physical Examination and Observations of Hypogonadism

A physical exam helps find physical signs of hypogonadism. The doctor may look at the development of your secondary sexual characteristics, such as body hair, muscle mass, breast development, or testicle size in men.

Other signs, including undescended testicles or abnormal genitalia, may also merit an investigation into hypogonadism. This may include an examination of the female reproductive organs in order to search for the source of hormonal imbalance.

Laboratory Tests for Confirmation of Hypogonadism

Blood tests are quite important in the discovery of hypogonadism. Measurements of testosterone levels in the serum confirm low levels, particularly when taken early in the morning in males.

Measurement of estrogen and FSH is conducted on females. Other tests, such as the luteinizing hormone levels, are used to clearly indicate further whether it’s primary in nature damaged testicular or ovarian origin, or secondary in origin-related to the hypothalamus or pituitary.

The imaging studies that could be decided upon studying the pituitary include MRIs and are usually proposed for picked cases.

Conclusion

An accurate diagnosis of hypogonadism will be required for the development of an effective treatment plan that will restore hormonal balance, alleviate symptoms, and improve the quality of life.

Dr. Rahul Mathur
Consultant Neuropsychiatris