Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Compensated Hypogonadism?SymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosis
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Compensated Hypogonadism?
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Compensated hypogonadismis a subclinical type of late-onsethypogonadism, a condition where the sex organs or gonads stop producing sufficient levels of sex hormones. It is estimated to affect 9.4% of aging men.
In the last few years, researchers have begun looking more closely at subclinical endocrine disorders, like compensated hypogonadism, because they have been found to be a marker of poor health that may be predictive of other more serious conditions such as heart disease.
Verywell / Adriana Sanchez
This article will discuss symptoms associated with compensated hypogonadism and causes, how the condition is diagnosed, and treatment options.
Compensated hypogonadism (CH) is also known as testosterone deficiency associated with age. This is due to a failure of thetestes(testicles) to produce higher amounts of the male sex hormonetestosterone.
As people age, these testes' cells become less responsive toluteinizinghormone (LH), apituitaryhormone that tells the testes to make testosterone. Typically, people with CH have elevated levels of LH, because LH is not being used efficiently.
Androgens, including testosterone, have many important functions in the body, such as promoting muscle growth, stimulating arousal, and influencing cognitive function. That means when CH develops, it can cause a wide range of symptoms.
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Symptoms of CH
The signs and symptoms that people with compensated hypogonadism might experience will depend on when the deficiency starts and for how long, its severity, and whether or not there is a decrease in the major functions of the testes.
Many people who have CH experience no significant symptoms, while others present with one or more of the following symptoms:
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What Causes Compensated Hypogonadism?
The reasons that CH develops are poorly understood, but some experts believe it may be related to overall declines in health.
One recent study found that people with CH were also more likely to have mobility issues, lower cognitive function, poor nutritional status, and blue moods than those with normal hormone levels.Another study found that a correlation between vitamin D deficiency and increased risk of CH.
However, unlike other types of hypogonadism, CH is not associated with lifestyle risk factors, including obesity, smoking, or alcohol use.
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How CH Is Diagnosed
If you are struggling with symptoms of compensated hypogonadism, it’s important to consult a healthcare provider. At your appointment, a healthcare professional will do a physical exam, looking for any abnormalities in your sex organs. They will also order bloodwork.
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How CH Is Treated
While sometypes of hypogonadismare treated with synthetic testosterone, there is currently no indication that testosterone therapy has sufficient benefit for those with compensated hypogonadism.
Your healthcare provider can help you weigh any potential benefits of testosterone therapy with the risks (such as increased risk ofprostate cancer, although still controversial) based on your overall health and symptoms.
Instead, most management strategies for CH include the adoption of healthy lifestyle habits, such as exercising regularly, eating a nutritious diet, reducing stress, and getting enough sleep.
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Prognosis: Coping With CH Long-Term
Hypogonadism is a marker of poor health and increased mortality risk, so a diagnosis should be taken seriously. You’ll want to work with your healthcare provider on strategies to improve your overall health.
The European Male Aging Study found that after four years of prospective follow-up, participants with compensated hypogonadism were three times more likely to have died compared to men who did not have any type of hypogonadism. People with CH also had nearly twice the mortality rate as those with other types of hypogonadism, such as secondary hypogonadism, orhypogonadotropichypogonadism.
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Summary
A Word From Verywell
Compensated hypogonadism is fairly common, but it is not a straightforward diagnosis. Not only does CH present with little to no symptoms, but there are many factors related to health alterations in old age that may cause large fluctuations in testosterone levels.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Corona G, Rastrelli G, Dicuio M, et al.Subclinical male hypogonadism.Minerva Endocrinol (Torino). 2021;46(3):252-261. doi:10.23736/S2724-6507.20.03208-3Corona G, Maseroli E, Rastrelli G, et al.Characteristics of compensated hypogonadism in patients with sexual dysfunction.J Sex Med. 2014;11(7):1823-1834. doi:10.1111/jsm.12549Kristensen DM, Desdoits-Lethimonier C, Mackey AL, et al.Ibuprofen alters human testicular physiology to produce a state of compensated hypogonadism.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2018;115(4):E715-E724. doi:10.1073/pnas.1715035115Bhasin S, Brito JP, Cunningham GR, et al.Testosterone therapy in men with hypogonadism: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2018;103(5):1715-1744. doi:10.1210/jc.2018-00229Ucak S, Basat O, Karatemiz G.Functional and nutritional state in elderly men with compensated hypogonadism.J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2013;14(6):433-436. doi:10.1016/j.jamda.2013.03.006Lee DM, Tajar A, Pye SR, et al.Association of hypogonadism with vitamin D status: the European Male Ageing Study.Eur J Endocrinol. 2012;166(1):77-85. doi:10.1530/EJE-11-0743Masterson JM, Soodana-Prakash N, Patel AS, Kargi AY, Ramasamy R.Elevated body mass index Is associated with secondary hypogonadism among men presenting to a tertiary academic medical center.World J Mens Health. 2019;37(1):93-98. doi:10.5534/wjmh.180047
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Corona G, Rastrelli G, Dicuio M, et al.Subclinical male hypogonadism.Minerva Endocrinol (Torino). 2021;46(3):252-261. doi:10.23736/S2724-6507.20.03208-3Corona G, Maseroli E, Rastrelli G, et al.Characteristics of compensated hypogonadism in patients with sexual dysfunction.J Sex Med. 2014;11(7):1823-1834. doi:10.1111/jsm.12549Kristensen DM, Desdoits-Lethimonier C, Mackey AL, et al.Ibuprofen alters human testicular physiology to produce a state of compensated hypogonadism.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2018;115(4):E715-E724. doi:10.1073/pnas.1715035115Bhasin S, Brito JP, Cunningham GR, et al.Testosterone therapy in men with hypogonadism: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2018;103(5):1715-1744. doi:10.1210/jc.2018-00229Ucak S, Basat O, Karatemiz G.Functional and nutritional state in elderly men with compensated hypogonadism.J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2013;14(6):433-436. doi:10.1016/j.jamda.2013.03.006Lee DM, Tajar A, Pye SR, et al.Association of hypogonadism with vitamin D status: the European Male Ageing Study.Eur J Endocrinol. 2012;166(1):77-85. doi:10.1530/EJE-11-0743Masterson JM, Soodana-Prakash N, Patel AS, Kargi AY, Ramasamy R.Elevated body mass index Is associated with secondary hypogonadism among men presenting to a tertiary academic medical center.World J Mens Health. 2019;37(1):93-98. doi:10.5534/wjmh.180047
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Corona G, Rastrelli G, Dicuio M, et al.Subclinical male hypogonadism.Minerva Endocrinol (Torino). 2021;46(3):252-261. doi:10.23736/S2724-6507.20.03208-3Corona G, Maseroli E, Rastrelli G, et al.Characteristics of compensated hypogonadism in patients with sexual dysfunction.J Sex Med. 2014;11(7):1823-1834. doi:10.1111/jsm.12549Kristensen DM, Desdoits-Lethimonier C, Mackey AL, et al.Ibuprofen alters human testicular physiology to produce a state of compensated hypogonadism.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2018;115(4):E715-E724. doi:10.1073/pnas.1715035115Bhasin S, Brito JP, Cunningham GR, et al.Testosterone therapy in men with hypogonadism: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2018;103(5):1715-1744. doi:10.1210/jc.2018-00229Ucak S, Basat O, Karatemiz G.Functional and nutritional state in elderly men with compensated hypogonadism.J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2013;14(6):433-436. doi:10.1016/j.jamda.2013.03.006Lee DM, Tajar A, Pye SR, et al.Association of hypogonadism with vitamin D status: the European Male Ageing Study.Eur J Endocrinol. 2012;166(1):77-85. doi:10.1530/EJE-11-0743Masterson JM, Soodana-Prakash N, Patel AS, Kargi AY, Ramasamy R.Elevated body mass index Is associated with secondary hypogonadism among men presenting to a tertiary academic medical center.World J Mens Health. 2019;37(1):93-98. doi:10.5534/wjmh.180047
Corona G, Rastrelli G, Dicuio M, et al.Subclinical male hypogonadism.Minerva Endocrinol (Torino). 2021;46(3):252-261. doi:10.23736/S2724-6507.20.03208-3
Corona G, Maseroli E, Rastrelli G, et al.Characteristics of compensated hypogonadism in patients with sexual dysfunction.J Sex Med. 2014;11(7):1823-1834. doi:10.1111/jsm.12549
Kristensen DM, Desdoits-Lethimonier C, Mackey AL, et al.Ibuprofen alters human testicular physiology to produce a state of compensated hypogonadism.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2018;115(4):E715-E724. doi:10.1073/pnas.1715035115
Bhasin S, Brito JP, Cunningham GR, et al.Testosterone therapy in men with hypogonadism: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2018;103(5):1715-1744. doi:10.1210/jc.2018-00229
Ucak S, Basat O, Karatemiz G.Functional and nutritional state in elderly men with compensated hypogonadism.J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2013;14(6):433-436. doi:10.1016/j.jamda.2013.03.006
Lee DM, Tajar A, Pye SR, et al.Association of hypogonadism with vitamin D status: the European Male Ageing Study.Eur J Endocrinol. 2012;166(1):77-85. doi:10.1530/EJE-11-0743
Masterson JM, Soodana-Prakash N, Patel AS, Kargi AY, Ramasamy R.Elevated body mass index Is associated with secondary hypogonadism among men presenting to a tertiary academic medical center.World J Mens Health. 2019;37(1):93-98. doi:10.5534/wjmh.180047
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