Endocrine Abstracts

Gonadism is a medical term for decreased functional activity of the gonads (ovaries or testes) producing hormones and gametes. Male hypogonadism is characterised by a deficiency in testosterone – a hormone critical for sexual, cognitive and body function as well as development. Low testosterone levels can be due to hypothalamic, pituitary or testicular abnormalities. Hypogonadism is classified as primary (primary testicular failure) and secondary (a problem in the hypotha...

Grave’s disease is an autoimmune mediated thyrotoxicosis which accounts for 50–80% of cases of hyperthyroidism. In addition to non-thyroid organ involvement, presence of thyroid stimulating hormone receptor antibodies (TRAb) or increased uptake on a nuclear scan are diagnostic. Ultrasound typically shows a diffuse enlargement of the thyroid with increased vascularity, but up to 23% of patients are known to have thyroid nodules. Thyroid nodules carry a 4–6% risk ...

Functional hypothalamic amenorrhoea (FHA) is an endocrine disorder secondary to a deficiency of pulsatile gonadatrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion. It is not related to hypothalamus-pituitary organic lesions, endocrine or systemic disease. The clinical profile is dependant on the degree of GnRH suppression – it can range from an inadequate luteal phase to hypothalamic amenorrhoea. The incidence of FHA ranges from 15% to 48% of the secondary amenorrheas. We present...