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Central Hypogonadism

Meaning

Central hypogonadism, also known as secondary or tertiary hypogonadism, is a clinical condition characterized by deficient sex hormone production due to a failure in the regulatory centers of the brain. Specifically, the dysfunction lies in the hypothalamus or the pituitary gland, resulting in inadequate secretion of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) or Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH), respectively. This failure to stimulate the gonads leads to low levels of testosterone in men or estrogen in women. It is distinct from primary hypogonadism, where the gonads themselves are the source of the problem.