children s health issues
Male Hypogonadism in Children
Treatment of Male Hypogonadism
Sometimes surgery Replacement of hormones Various treatments are done depending on the cause of hypogonadism. For cryptorchidism, doctors do surgery to move the undescended testes into the scrotum, which usually enables the testes to function normally. Surgical repair helps prevent future complications. For secondary hypogonadism, doctors treat any underlying disorder of the pituitary gland or hypothalamus. Supplements oftestosteroneare given, and the dose is increased over a period of 18 to 24 months. Treatment is started at an age when puberty normally begins, often around 12 years of age. Fortestosteronedeficiency, as in secondary hypogonadism, doctors give adolescent boys injections oftestosteroneevery 2 to 4 weeks, and the dose is increased over a period of 18 to 24 months. As boys get older,testosteronecan also be delivered through a patch on the skin or as a gel. For constitutional delay of puberty, doctors may givetestosteroneinjections for 4 to 6 months. At low doses,testosteronestarts puberty, causes the development of some masculine characteristics (virilization), and does not prevent adolescents from reaching their adult height potential. Genetic disorders cannot be cured, but hormone therapy may help sexual characteristics develop. 