Hypogonadism is an unhealthy medical condition caused by lower than normal levels of sex hormones. If left untreated
or poorly treated it leads to many serious illnesses such as heart disease, osteoporosis and periodontal disease.
In women hypogonadism is also referred to as menopause.
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Some of the symptoms of hypogonadism are sleep disruption, fuzzy thinking, and loss of sexual function. More common
symptoms are hot flashes, achy joints and depression.
The symptoms of hypogonadism are the same for women and men.
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Hypogonadism lasts as long as the sex hormones remain below physiologic levels. With many women, this can constitute up to one-third of her lifespan.
A lifelong condition is also called a chronic condition.
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Hypogonadism is caused by the failure of the gonads, ovary in women, testis in men, to produce adult levels of the
sex hormones. Hypogonadism may be a result of medication which suppresses the function of the gonads, or medication
that causes the liver to metabolize the sex hormones faster than usual. Hypogonadism can also be the result of less
of the sex hormones being produced by the adrenal gland (small gland on top of the kidneys). Gonad failure is what causes menopause in women.
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