In the world of hormone replacement therapy, there are many different commonly used terms that you might hear. But do you know what they all mean? We’ve got a list of some of the common lingo and a quick explanation of each Hormone Lingo below.
Andropause or viropause, also known as manopause or male menopause, and of course Low T and low Testosterone. Low T is the gradual and highly variable decline in a male’s production of certain sex hormones, especially testosterone. Sometimes called ADAM (androgen deficiency in the aging male) usually presents itself around middle age.
HRT (hormone replacement therapy) is any type of hormone therapy in which the patient receives hormones either to supplement a lack of naturally occurring hormones or to substitute other hormones for naturally their naturally occurring ones.
Hypogonadism is the medical term for the diminished functionality of the gonads (testes in males and ovaries in females) in producing sex hormones, which can result in a drop in libido and other health issues.
Primary hypogonadism involves testicular disorders, including
- Klinefelter’s syndrome
- Cryptorchidism (undescended testicles)
- Defects of testicular development (twisted or strangulated testes)
- Orchitis (swelling of one or both of the testes resulting in permanent damage)
- Orchidectomy (surgical removal of the testes, such as for prostate cancer)
- Toxin exposure (radiation, chemotherapy or radiotherapy, domestic, industrial or environmental poisons)
Secondary hypogonadism or tertiary hypogonadism causes brain, (Hypothalamic-Pituitary Dysregulation), genetic and other types of disorders, including
- Kallmann syndrome
- Pituitary gland tumor and treatment (surgery and/or irradiation)
- Haemochromatosis (a blood-iron disorder)
- Craniopharyngioma (a benign tumor of the brain)
Heard something you’re not sure about? Send us an email, and we’ll add it to the ever-growing list of terminology associated with hormone replacement therapy!
