Up to 58% of all hormonal imbalances that disrupt the male reproductive function develop in childhood. The frequency of hormonal imbalance in teenage males in the 21st century is rapidly increasing, mainly due to the increase in the prevalence of obesity. But adolescents with a normal weight also have hormonal problems. All of them can be successfully solved. If timely detected, therapy allows normal puberty.
Content
- What is delayed puberty?
- How are hormonal imbalances diagnosed in boys?
- How are hormonal imbalances treated in boys?
Hormonal imbalances are usually treated with drugs. Occasionally, doctors also resort to surgical interventions.
You can undergo your treatment in one of the following hospitals: University Hospital of Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, University Hospital Ulm, or Urology Clinic Munich-Planegg.
You do not have to take care of the organization of treatment yourself. Booking Health will arrange your trip, from helping you to select a clinic to translating medical records into your native language after the completion of your treatment. The doctors of the Booking Health company will tell you about innovative treatment methods, and the managers will solve all organizational issues. An interpreter will accompany you to the clinic.
What is delayed puberty?
Many boys lack testosterone due to a malfunction of the internal glands. Not only testicular dysfunction can lead to its deficiency, but also disturbances in the work of the hypothalamic-pituitary system or the thyroid gland.
Delayed puberty is considered the following:
- a lack of signs of puberty after 14 years;
- the volume of the testicles does not reach 4 ml by this age;
- the length of the testicles is less than 2.5 cm.
This is a borderline state between the norm and hypogonadism (low testosterone levels). In 70% of cases, the cause is a violation of the impulse secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Causes can be genetics, obesity, vitamin D deficiency, anorexia nervosa, bad habits, or low levels of exercise.
Patients with delayed sexual development need medical attention, since, if left untreated, the consequences can be irreversible. These may be as follows:
- a short stature;
- a low bone mass, a poor bone mineralization, and an increased risk of bone fractures throughout life;
- infertility;
- underdeveloped external genitalia.
Untimely or poor-quality diagnostics and treatment affect the entire subsequent life of a patient. To avoid irreversible consequences, one should seek medical attention from a pediatric endocrinologist or a urologist if puberty has not occurred at the age of 14. In Germany, you will be provided with the highest level of medical care. Doctors will establish an accurate diagnosis within a few days and select a therapy aimed at normalizing the hormonal background.
How are hormonal imbalances diagnosed in boys?
Hormonal imbalances are different, and the causes of their development are also different. Sometimes hormonal imbalances may be a consequence of organic diseases of the endocrine glands. Still, they are often caused by functional disorders that can be combated by prescribing drugs and modifying lifestyles.
The cause of hormonal imbalances can be found with diagnostics. Doctors use the following examinations:
- a clinical examination;
- clinical laboratory tests;
- hormone blood tests;
- instrumental examinations to detect organic pathologies of the endocrine glands.
Based on hormone testing results, it becomes clear which hormones are lacking and which are formed in excess. There can be problems with various hormones, including testosterone, thyroxine, TSH, gonadotropin hormones, etc. Some boys have adrenal dysfunction associated with this gland's underdevelopment or hyperplasia (overdevelopment).
Clinical tests can be conducted to clarify the diagnosis: doctors administer hormones and repeat tests to understand how the body will respond to changes in hormonal levels.
Some patients require instrumental examinations to assess the condition of the testicles, thyroid gland, adrenal glands, and pituitary gland. Doctors can also use ultrasound, CT, or MRI scans.
Genetic defects can rarely cause hormonal problems. These can be identified through genetic testing.
How are hormonal imbalances treated in boys?
As a rule, the treatment of hormonal imbalance in teenage male in Germany is conservative. Patients receive hormonal drugs that eliminate the deficiency or excess of hormones. For example, doctors may prescribe:
- testosterone preparations (for primary testicular dysfunction);
- gonadotropins;
- prolactin secretion inhibitors;
- thyroid hormone preparations.
Treatment regimens and dosages of drugs are selected individually. Therapy is controlled based on test results.
Complementary therapies include physiotherapy, therapeutic exercises, lifestyle modification, and diet.
Some patients require surgery, for example, in severe varicocele, which leads to testicular atrophy, cryptorchidism (undescended testicles in the scrotum), or hormone-secreting tumors.
You can undergo diagnostics, treatment and rehabilitation for male hormonal imbalance in adolescents in Germany. You are welcome to use the Booking Health service to find the most suitable medical centers. Our website offers the best hospitals in the world and actual prices. When making your treatment appointment through our service, you can get treatment at a favorable cost due to the lack of additional fees for foreign patients. The Booking Health specialists will select the most suitable clinics in Germany for you and arrange your trip.
Authors:
The article was edited by medical experts, board-certified doctors Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova and Dr. Sergey Pashchenko. For the treatment of the conditions referred to in the article, you must consult a doctor; the information in the article is not intended for self-medication!
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Verywell Health
PubMed
