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Testicular failure - Symptom

Alternative Names

Primary hypogonadism - male

Symptoms:

  • Decrease in height
  • Enlarged breasts (gynecomastia)
  • Infertility
  • Lack of muscle mass
  • Lack of sex drive (libido)
  • Loss of armpit and pubic hair
  • Slow development or lack of secondary male sex characteristics (hair growth, scrotum enlargement, penis enlargement, voice changes)

Men may also notice they do not need to shave as often.

Signs and tests:

A physical exam may show:

  • Genitals that do not clearly look either male or female (usually found during infancy)
  • Abnormally small testicles
  • Tumor or growth (group of cells) on or near the testicle

Other tests may show low bone mineral density and fractures. Blood tests may show low levels of testosterone and high levels of prolactin, FSH, and LH.

Testicular failure and low testosterone levels may be hard to diagnose in older men because testosterone levels normally fall with age.

  • Reviewed last on: 6/28/2011
  • Ari S. Eckman, MD, Chief, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Trinitas Regional Medical Center, Elizabeth, NJ. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Bhasin S. Testicular disorders. In: Kronenberg HM, Shlomo M, Polonsky KS, Larsen PR, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 18.

Bhasin S, Cunningham GR, Hayes FJ, et al. Testosterone therapy in adult men with androgen deficiency syndromes: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006 Jun;91(6):1995-2010.

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