Skip to main content

Endocrine Axis Suppression

Meaning

The clinical state characterized by a pharmacologically induced or pathological reduction in the normal feedback signaling loop within a specific hormonal axis, such as the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) or hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This suppression results in decreased endogenous production and secretion of the target hormones, often due to the administration of exogenous hormones. It is a predictable physiological consequence of replacement therapy, where the body perceives adequate circulating hormone levels and downregulates its own production mechanisms.