Mednet Logo
CommunityEndocrinology

What therapies do you offer to young patients with secondary hypogonadism due to obesity who have lost weight but have ongoing hypogonadal symptoms and lower end of normal testosterone levels?

Community PollStarted

What is your approach to a young patient with obesity-related secondary hypogonadism who has lost weight but has persistent hypogonadal symptoms and testosterone at the lower end of normal?

24 physicians have voted

Join Mednetto vote and see how they answered.

4 Answers
Mednet Member
Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Endocrinology · MedStar Health
Answered on

First of all, the symptoms may not be due to low testosterone. Keep in mind that obesity can be associated with low SHBG. Total testosterone may thus be low but free testosterone may be normal. Free testosterone assays are not the most reliable. Therefore, clinical judgment is often needed in border...

Join for free or sign in to see the full answer

Mednet Member
Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Endocrinology · Endocrine Care Center At Uw Medical Center Roosevelt
Answered on

A man with a low serum testosterone due to obesity whose testosterone rises to the normal range after weight loss is typically eugonadal. Symptoms of hypogonadism, such as low or decreased libido, are nonspecific and are often due to other causes, including depression.

Join for free or sign in to see the full answer

Mednet Member
Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Endocrinology · Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center Endocrinology
Answered on

I would look for other underlying causes such as sleep apnea, depression, etc. TRT is not indicated unless 2 fasting testosterone levels below normal.

Join for free or sign in to see the full answer

Mednet Member
Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Endocrinology · Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Answered on

Obesity is frequently associated with low testosterone (T) levels. This is due to the lowering of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) remain normal. Thus, it is not an organic hypogonadism and has been called pseudo-hypogonadism. In mo...

Join for free or sign in to see the full answer