Hypergonadotropic hypogonadism
Hypergonadotropic hypogonadism, or HH, is a big, complicated name for a condition that means a person’s body doesn’t make enough hormones that are important for growing and maturing.
To imagine what hormones are, let’s think about a construction site. Just like builders use materials to make a house, our body uses hormones to build things like bones, muscles or even our brains. Now, imagine that the builders suddenly run out of materials - this is what it’s like when someone has HH.
The body of someone with HH doesn't produce enough of two hormones that are very important in the process of growing up: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). These hormones come from an important gland called the pituitary gland, which sits at the base of the brain.
When someone has HH, their pituitary gland continues to make FSH and LH, but not enough. So, the body tries to make up for this by producing more testosterone or estrogen, which are hormones that help with the physical changes that boys and girls go through during puberty.
Unfortunately, even with increased levels of testosterone or estrogen, someone with HH may not develop in the same way that other people their age do. This can mean that they may not grow as tall, their muscles may not develop normally, and they may not have some of the characteristics that their peers have, like facial hair or breasts.
HH can be caused by lots of things, like genetic problems or infections. Treatments vary depending on the cause of the condition, but may include hormone replacement therapy, which is like giving the body back the missing materials it needs to build a strong and healthy body.
To imagine what hormones are, let’s think about a construction site. Just like builders use materials to make a house, our body uses hormones to build things like bones, muscles or even our brains. Now, imagine that the builders suddenly run out of materials - this is what it’s like when someone has HH.
The body of someone with HH doesn't produce enough of two hormones that are very important in the process of growing up: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). These hormones come from an important gland called the pituitary gland, which sits at the base of the brain.
When someone has HH, their pituitary gland continues to make FSH and LH, but not enough. So, the body tries to make up for this by producing more testosterone or estrogen, which are hormones that help with the physical changes that boys and girls go through during puberty.
Unfortunately, even with increased levels of testosterone or estrogen, someone with HH may not develop in the same way that other people their age do. This can mean that they may not grow as tall, their muscles may not develop normally, and they may not have some of the characteristics that their peers have, like facial hair or breasts.
HH can be caused by lots of things, like genetic problems or infections. Treatments vary depending on the cause of the condition, but may include hormone replacement therapy, which is like giving the body back the missing materials it needs to build a strong and healthy body.
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