Endogenous androgen production is dynamically regulated by both exercise and winning in competition. However, due to variability in endogenous secretion, and similarities with exogenous testosterone, it has been challenging to establish allowable limits for testosterone in competition. As a result, exogenous androgen is banned from most competitive sports. On a day-to-day basis, many men will find these effects of hypogonadism at least as important as the effects on fertility and sexual function.Īs one Pituitary Foundation member explained: “…testosterone is much more to do with one’s emotional response to life’s setbacks than with one’s libido.”Īnother member commented: “Gynaecomastia is acutely embarrassing for a man and does affect his self-esteem”.Testosterone and other anabolic-androgenic steroids enhance athletic performance in men and women. As Kallmann’s Syndrome is present before birth it may also be associated with micropenis and undescended testes. When hypogonadism occurs during childhood or adolescence, puberty will not progress. In some men a lack of testosterone can also cause Gynaecomastia (increased breast tissue). Other effects can include lack of energy, depression, loss of body and facial hair, muscular weakness and, in the long-term, Osteoporosis (the thinning of the bones). Other effects: Hypogonadism affects more than sexual function and reproduction, important as these are.Sexual function: Testosterone is an essential male hormone and is needed for the normal interest in sexual activity (libido) and helps erections to happen.Fertilisation becomes less likely as the sperm concentration falls progressively below this level.
A normal sperm concentration is considered to be more than 20 million per ml. Sub-fertility: In order for fertilisation to occur, a man’s semen must contain sufficient sperm which must be active and healthy.The lack of stimulation of the pituitary by GnRH means that the pituitary in turn does not release LH and FSH. In Kallmann’s Syndrome the hypothalamus fails to release GnRH. Release of gonadotrophins from the pituitary is also absent in Kallmann’s Syndrome, a rare genetic syndrome frequently associated with absence of the sense of smell (anosmia). Treatment to reduce or remove a pituitary tumour, using surgery or radiotherapy, may also affect the pituitary gland’s ability to produce these hormones. Pituitary tumours are actually swellings in the pituitary - as they grow they may destroy the cells in the pituitary that produce hormones including the gonadotrophins. Please be assured that these are benign tumours and not cancerous. The normal function of the pituitary gland is most commonly disrupted by the presence of a pituitary tumour. Reduced production of LH will affect the production of testosterone.
If the pituitary gland does not produce enough or any gonadotrophin hormones, this can affect fertility in men because: In this section we are concerned with problems caused by the lack of stimulation of the testes by the pituitary hormones LH and FSH. What are the effects of a lack of male hormones?Īnything that affects the normal functioning of the testes can cause hypogonadism and sub-fertility. Lack of the male sex hormone, testosterone, is termed Hypogonadism. In adult life it is important in maintaining the strength of your muscles and bones, improves general well-being and energy levels and is intricately involved in both your normal sex drive (libido) and erections. FSH acts on a separate population of cells within the testes to stimulate the production of sperm.ĭuring puberty testosterone is essential for growth, increasing muscle bulk, development of the penis and for male pattern hair growth. LH acts on specialised cells within the testes and stimulates release of the male sex hormone, testosterone. The functions of the testes are controlled by the Gonadotrophins which travel via the bloodstream to the testes.