Symptoms:

Girls who have hypogonadism during childhood will not begin menstruating. The condition can affect girls' breast development and height. If hypogonadism occurs after puberty, symptoms include:

• Hot flashes
• Loss of body hair
• Low libido
• Menstruation stops

In boys, hypogonadism in childhood affects muscle and beard development and leads to growth problems. In men the usual symptoms are:

• Breast enlargement
• Decreased beard and body hair
• Muscle loss
• Sexual problems

If a brain tumor is present (central hypogonadism), there may be:

• Headaches or vision loss
• Milky breast discharge (from a prolactinoma)
• Symptoms of other hormonal deficiencies (such as hypothyroidism)

People with anorexia nervosa (who diet to the point of starvation) and those who lose a lot of weight very quickly (such as after gastric bypass surgery) also may have central hypogonadism.

Signs and tests:

Tests may be done that check:

• Estrogen level (women)
• FSH level and LH level
• Testosterone level (men)

Other tests may include:

• Blood tests for anemia and iron
• Genetic tests
• Prolactin level (milk hormone)
• Sperm count
• Thyroid level

Sometimes imaging tests are needed, such as a sonogram of the ovaries. If pituitary disease is suspected, an MRI or CT scan of the brain may be done.