Clinical and Hormonal Profile of Hypogonadism

SUMMARY: Hypogonadism is an important problem with which many boys and girls present to the Endocrine out patient aepartment. They experience significant emotional problems due to their reduced secondary sexual characters and delayed puberty. Hence appropriate evaluation and reasonable treatment is of paramount importance in resuming fertility among them. This study was conducted to evaluate such patients and to treat them effectively. • Most of the individuals presented below the age group of 18 years. Very few presented above 18 years. Many of them above 18 years were found to have hypergonadotropic hypogonadism. Idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism was the most common cause among below 18 years. • Among the individuals who presented most of them were males, only a few were females. In males, Idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism is the commonest cause, whereas in females many of them had Turner’s syndrome. • In our study, we had few patients with interesting causes of hypogonadism like kallmann syndrome, vanishing testis syndrome, craniopharyngioma and with deficiency of other pituitary hormones (hypopituitarism). • Birth order was found to significantly influence the risk of hypogonadism. As the birth order increased the risk reduced significantly. • Among the anthropometric variables studied, Arm span, height and weight in males are found to be significantly higher in patients with hypergonadotropic hypogonadism (Klinefelter syndrome), than patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. • A significant correlation existed between various study variables especially total testosterone and LH in males, and height and arm span in both males and females. • This study shows the commonest cause of hypogonadism is Idiopathic Hypogonodotropic Hypogonadism and since it is now a treatable condition, early and correct diagnosis is of paramount importance to the individual, family and society at large. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Most common age group of presentation of hypogonadism patients is below 18 years of age. 2. Hypogonadism is found to be more common in Males than in females. 3. In males, the most common cause is Idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. 4. A significant association is present between Birth Order and the incidence of hypogonadism. Most of the patients are first born. 5. Arm span, height and weight varied significantly between Males of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and hypergonadotropic hypogonadism. 6. A significant correlation existed between total testosterone and LH in males, whereas arm span and height correlated well in both males and females. 7. This study shows the commonest cause of hypogonadism is Idiopathic Hypogonodotropic Hypogonadism and since it is now a treatable condition, early and correct diagnosis is of paramount importance to the individual, family and society at large.