What Are the Causes of Only 50% Testosterone Production in a Male?

Male hypogonadism, or androgen deficiency, is a disorder in which the body doesn't produce enough testosterone---the hormone that plays a key role in masculine growth and development during puberty, according to the Mayo Clinic. The causes vary, but early detection is crucial in preventing the onset of complications, such as osteoporosis.

Symptoms

• The symptoms signaling low testosterone vary and depend largely on the onset of the condition. For instance, males born with the condition can display female genitals or underdeveloped male genitals, according to Mayo Clinic. In adult men, hypogonadism can change certain physical characteristics or impair reproductive capabilities. Symptoms in adults can include erectile dysfunction, a decrease in body hair growth, development of breast tissue, infertility, decrease in muscle mass and loss of bone mass. The condition can also lead to emotional and mental changes, such as depression. Some men with hypogonadism experience symptoms that mimic those of menopause in women, such as fatigue, hot flashes and a decreased sex drive.

Primary Hypogonadism

• Low testosterone in men means their testicles do not produce enough of the hormone. Sometimes the problem originates from a malfunction within the testicles. This condition is often referred to as primary hypogonadism, according to Mayo Clinic. A common cause of primary testicular failure is Klinefelter syndrome, a condition resulting from a congenital abnormality of the sex chromosomes, X and Y. An extra X chromosome occurs in men with Klinefelter syndrome, leading to abnormal development of the testicles, which also causes an underproduction of testosterone. Another cause is one or both of the testicles not descending at birth.

  Other common causes include a mumps infection during adolescence or adulthood, too much iron in the blood, pituitary gland dysfunction, injury to the testicles and cancer treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy. As men age, there's also a slow and continuous decrease in testosterone production, according to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.

Secondary Hypogonadism

• When a man is diagnosed with secondary hypogonadism, it is because his testicles are normal but function improperly due to a problem with the pituitary gland or hypothalamus, according to Mayo Clinic. The causes of this form include Kallmann syndrome---abnormal development of the hypothalamus, which is the area of the brain that controls the secretion of pituitary hormones---and abnormalities in the pituitary gland that impair the release of hormones from the pituitary gland to the testicles. Sometimes the condition is caused by a tumors located near the pituitary gland.

  Other common causes, according to MedicineNet, include blood loss, inflammatory diseases such as tuberculosis and sarcoidosis, obesity, HIV/AIDS and medications such as opiate pain medications.

Prevention

• Low testosterone is always due to the failure of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis, according to doctors at the Mayo Clinic. Unfortunately, many of the illnesses and diseases that affect these organs are genetic and cannot be prevented. However, some causes, such as obesity and drug abuse, can be prevented.

Prognosis

• The ability to treat low testosterone depends upon early detection and seeking medical care. Once the cause is diagnosed, testosterone replacement therapy is one treatment option available for reversing the symptoms related to low hormone levels. If left untreated, however, the Mayo Clinic warns that osteoporosis and muscle loss can occur.