Why treat hypogonadism (called menopause for women)
Hypogonadism in women and men is a serious medical condition. Left untreated or poorly treated at any age it leads to ill health. The symptoms of hypogonadism are the same for men and women and include the following:
According to the National Institutes of Health hypogonadism is defined as:
Alternative Names:
Gonadal Deficiency
Hypogonadism is only described as menopause in women. In men hypogonadism has no friendly name. All the symptoms of menopause are the symptoms of hypogonadism and effect women and men equally. The female gonad, the ovary, and the male gonad, the testis, produce the same hormones, estradiol, testosterone, progesterone and dhea. Hormone replacement for women and men should include replacing the sex hormones in the ratios that the gonads, the ovary and testis, produce.
The need to modernize treatment
It is healthier to treat hypogonadism than to leave it untreated. That is because untreated hypogonadism leads to poorer health. Treatment for hypogonadism involves replacing the hormones that the gonads no longer produce. Replacement of hormones is not new to medical science. Diabetics are much healthier with insulin replacement as are people with hypothyroidism who use thyroid replacement. Over the years it has become very clear that when replacing hormones the healthiest outcomes are with physiologic, bio-identical replacement.
Unfortunately treatment for hypogonadism has not evolved for women and only somewhat for men. Since 1942 Premarin™ has been the primary treatment option for women. Premarin™ does not restore sexual function and does not lower the increased risk of breast cancer from ovarian failure. Clinical trials have confirmed that Premarin™ is not an effective treatment for hypogonadism in women, yet no other treatment options are explored. Effective treatment for hypogonadism in women is available but is largely unused.
Treatment of hypogonadism in men has evolved and is currently more effective than in the past. It restores sexual function and is based on physiologic, bio-identical replacement, but only of testosterone. The male gonads produce more than just testosterone yet only testosterone is replaced. Better treatment of hypogonadism would include all of the testicular hormones.
Diamond Research Foundation is dedicated to finding effective treatment options for hypogonadism in both women and men.