HYPOGONADISM – University of Dundee

HYPOGONADISM

What is testosterone?

Testosterone is the male hormone which is mainly produced by the testis. Small quantities are made in other organs (eg adrenal gland), but in a man this contributes only a small amount of the total. Testosterone is a hormone which is released into the blood which will have effects on other parts of the body. Testosterone is important for:

When men have a lack of testosterone the condition is termed hypogonadism

What controls the production of testosterone from the testis ?

PICTURE

A part of the brain called the pituitary release a hormone called lutenising hormone (LH) which controls testosterone production. Another hormone from the pituitary called follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), along with testosterone stimulates sperm production. Slightly higher in the brain the hypothalamus releases a hormone called gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) which controls production of LH and FSH.

What is a normal testosterone concentration ?

Testosterone concentrations in the blood vary from patient to patient. They are at their highest between 8-10am and lowest at about 10pm. In Tayside the normal range for healthy men is usually between 10-35nmol/l.

What symptoms may I have of hypogonadism ?

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HYPOGONADISM - University of Dundee

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