Which hormone is typically deficient in cases of hypogonadism?

• A. Estrogen
• B. Progesterone
• C. Gonadotropins (FSH and LH)
• D. Testosterone

Answer: (C)

In cases of hypogonadism, the primary issue is the insufficient production of sex hormones due to underdeveloped or dysfunctional gonads (ovaries in women and testes in men). In this context, gonadotropins—follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH)—are the hormones typically deficient.

Hypogonadism can lead to decreased secretion of FSH and LH from the pituitary gland, which are crucial for stimulating the gonads to produce their respective hormones (estrogen and testosterone). In a primary hypogonadism scenario, the gonads are nonfunctional, leading to low levels of sex hormones and, as a consequence, the body mechanisms that stimulate the pituitary (FSH and LH release) can become impaired.

Thus, the lack of gonadotropins directly correlates with the lack of stimulation that results in diminished levels of sex hormones, solidifying the context of hypogonadism and its relationship with gonadotropins. FSH and LH play a vital role in regulating reproductive functions, and their deficiency is integral in understanding the pathophysiology behind hypogonadism.