Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Causes of Low Testosterone

Low Testosterone refers to low levels on the testosterone hormone inside the bloodstream. This condition is diagnosed after methodical diagnostic tests wherein blood and saliva samples are sought from the patient. However, just before initiating a treatment, the result in of low testosterone should be established. A bring about of low testosterone is extra categorized as either a principal or secondary cause.
The main causes refer to symptoms origination because of difficulties in the organs primarily responsible for synthesizing testosterone. These conditions are usually known as hypogonadism, i.e. a nation of lowered or impaired testosterone production within the gonads. In between males, this refers to a medical difficulty during the testicles although in females it refers to impaired testosterone synthesis during the ovaries.
Low Testosterone Causes-Primary Hypogonadism is caused due to:
. Undescended Testicles-this condition is established during fetal development once the testes don't descend to the scrotal sac, leading to severe lack of testosterone.
. Cancer Treatment-chemotherapy or radiation therapy is known to obtain several side-effects and this includes harm towards interstitial cells present in the testes that are chiefly responsible for producing testosterone. Ovulation in women can be permanently harmed by radiation therapy.
. Aging-testosterone levels go through a natural method of depletion as the individual ages. This is applicable to both men and women.
. Frequent Ovarian Conditions-in some women, the surgical removal of ovaries is needed to arrest a spreading infection. Some women have a condition referred to as PCOS or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or Stein-Leventhal syndrome. This condition is most common in women of childbearing age. That is essentially a region of severe hormonal abnormality that always leads to infertility by causing hormonal imbalance. During PCOS, testosterone levels tend to rise and fall without any particular pattern.
Low Testosterone Causes-Secondary Hypogonadism
If the low testosterone is because of inactivity of other organs involved in testosterone synthesis, the symptoms are referred to as Secondary Hypogonadism. Secondary (or Tertiary) hypogonadism is established when testosterone production in other testosterone-producing areas like the hypothalamus-pituitary pathway or adrenal gland is affected. Pituitary-related hypogonadism is referred to as tertiary hypogonadism although it is always clubbed with secondary causes.
Causes for Secondary Hypogonadism:
. Trauma to the pituitary gland as a result of tumor or radiation therapy sought for treating tumors.
. Hypothalamus malformations that will be induced by rare problems like Kallman's Syndrome.
. Impaired blood flow towards adrenal or pituitary gland due to blood loss induced by an accident.
. Inflammation as a result of diseases like tuberculosis that are known to impair activity in the pituitary. Similarly, HIV and AIDS can lead to inflammation of hypothalamus or pituitary.
. Obesity is recognized to promote the conversion of free testosterone into female hormones like estrogen.
. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia or adrenal gland atrophy present at the time of birth can impair the testosterone-producing capability of adrenal glands.
. Alcoholism and prostate cancer can induce phases of reduced testosterone production, i.e. due to severe illnesses that weaken the entire metabolic activities of an individual.
. Use of addictive substances like barbiturates or anticonvulsant drugs is identified to have a detrimental effect over a synthesis of testosterone.


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