Hypogonadism
Also called Low testosterone, testosterone deficiency, late-onset hypogonadism
Hypogonadism is a condition in which the body's sex glands (gonads), the testes in men and the ovaries in women, produce little or no sex hormone. In men, the hormone in question is testosterone, and "male hypogonadism" is the clinical name for what is often called low T.
Clinicians divide it by where the problem sits. In primary hypogonadism, the testes or ovaries themselves do not work properly. In secondary, or central, hypogonadism, the glands are capable but the pituitary gland or hypothalamus in the brain is not sending the signals that tell them to work. Blood tests for LH (luteinizing hormone) and FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) are usually part of the workup, alongside testosterone or estrogen.
Why it matters after 45
Late-onset hypogonadism is the term for low testosterone in older men that comes with matching symptoms; it is a type of secondary hypogonadism and is more common in men with type 2 diabetes or excess weight. In women, menopause is technically the most common cause of hypogonadism, though the word is rarely used that way in everyday practice.
Where it comes up
Related terms
References
- MedlinePlus. Hypogonadism. U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001195.htm
- Cleveland Clinic. Low Testosterone (Male Hypogonadism). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15603-low-testosterone-male-hypogonadism
- Salonia A, Rastrelli G, Hackett G, et al. Paediatric and adult-onset male hypogonadism. Nature Reviews Disease Primers, 2019. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6944317/
Definitions here are educational and are not medical advice. They explain what a term means; the pages linked above cover what it means for you, and a clinician reviews your own results. Editorial & medical review policy · All glossary terms