Signs and Symptoms of Testicular Failure
Testicular failureis the inability to produce male hormone or sperm cells of the testicles. This condition is not a very common occurrence in men. Some of the cases of undescended testicles in men which usually happen at birth are at greater tendencies of developing testicular failures. This is also known as primary hypogonadism in men.
The most common symptoms of
testicular failure are lack of body mass, development of breast tissue, lack of libido or sex drive and infertility. Most men will also have absence or slow development of the secondary characteristics of the male gender such as voice changes, slow growth of hair in the inguinal areas of the body, penis and scrotal enlargement. A physical examination on a man may reveal some of these characteristics;
|
|
abnormal size of the testicles which are usually very small compared to their normal size, tumor or lumps in the inguinal area or in the testicles, genitals which are usually noted during infancy may not perfectly look male nor female. Further tests may show fractures and low bone mineral density. Low levels of testosterone and high levels of LH and FSH are revealed in blood tests. The level of testosterone normally decreases with age that is why it is sometimes very difficult to diagnose low testosterone and testicular failure in older men. Replacement therapy to improve the level of testosterone might only lead to the improvement of the symptoms and unpredictable and variable outcomes. |
The most common causes of testicular failure are damages due to drugs, diseases or injuries to the normally developed testicles, problems involving sexual development and maturation, testicular torsion and chromosome abnormalities and anatomical deformities present before or at birth.
Testicular failure is neither a serious condition nor a life threatening one. Nevertheless, this condition may be serious in some ways to most men. This condition may result to infertility which may not enable them to have children in the future, their libido or sex drive is affected and problems that involve the development of their male gender characteristics. Although the loss of male hormones may be replaced which may help restore their normal drive in sex and continue their normal sexual development. But some factors which are caused by testicular failures such as lack of libido and infertility are already irreversible.
It is recommended to have a referral with your health care provider once noticed some of the symptoms of testicular failure. A possible treatment for testicular failure is the supplementations of male hormones. Some forms of this condition have successfully been treated by taking male hormones and undergoing testosterone replacement therapy, although this procedure needs to be carefully monitored by a medical professional. Testosterone overuse may cause abnormality in the production of red blood cells and an abnormal growth of the prostate gland. The prevention of testicular failure is to avoid involving yourself in high risks activities as much as possible. Avoiding activities and particular drugs that are known to be the cause of this condition may restore normal testicular function.
