What Causes Hypogonadism?
There are various causes of hypogonadism, including: • Klinefelter’s syndrome. This syndrome involves the presence of abnormal sex chromosomes. A male normally has one X chromosome and one Y chromosome. The Y chromosome contains the genetic material with the codes that determine the male gender, and related masculine characteristics and development. Males with Klinefelter’s syndrome have an extra X chromosome, which causes abnormal development of the testicles. • Undescended testicles. (see above) • Hemochromatosis. This condition is marked by too much iron in the blood, and can cause the testicles or the pituitary gland to malfunction. • Testicular trauma. Damage to the testicles can affect the production of testosterone. • Cancer treatment. Chemotherapy or radiation therapy, common treatments for cancer, can interfere with testosterone and sperm production by the testicles. • Normal aging. Older men generally have lower levels of testosterone, although the decline of the hormone vari
