Hormone disorders

What are hormone disorders?

Hormone disorders in women

Common disorders such as fluctuations in the menstrual cycle or changes in hair growth can be caused by several control levels of the hormone cascade.

Various pathological processes including congenital disorders, autoimmune reactions and benign and malignant tumor formation can take place both at the primary hormone production sites, the ovaries and the adrenal glands, which are also involved in sex hormone production, as well as at the higher-level control glands, usually the pituitary gland.

Hormone disorders in men

At what point one should speak of a hormone disorder in the sense of a pathological deficiency of male hormones in adult men is a recurring topic of debate, including among international specialist associations. It is of course undisputed that a deficiency is present if the testicles, the main production site of male sex hormones, are severely damaged (e.g. after chemotherapy or radiation) or have been surgically removed.

With increasing age, however, the level of sex hormones in men decreases without this being pathological in itself. However, a pathological deficiency can occur with heavy alcohol consumption or obesity. Genetic causes can also lead to a deficiency or reduced effectiveness of male hormones. Finally, disorders of other endocrine organs can cause a deficiency, most commonly an overproduction of prolactin from the pituitary gland. Incidentally, there is also an excess of sex hormone in men, usually in the context of doping in strength and competitive sports. Complications include changes in the blood, skin and hair changes and infertility.

As adrenal function is controlled by the pituitary gland, damage to the pituitary gland can also lead to a secondary disruption of adrenal function.