ArticleThe Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism2019
Functional Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism in Men: Underlying Neuroendocrine Mechanisms and Natural History.
Article in The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 41 citations in OpenAlex.
- Reversal of Congenital Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2026Pooled it
- American Association of Clinical Endocrinology Clinical Practice Guideline: Developing a Diabetes Mellitus Comprehensive Care Plan-2022 Update.Endocrine practice : official journal of the American College of Endocrinology and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists · 2022Guideline
- Reversible congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism: keys for clinical management.Archives of endocrinology and metabolism · 2026Review
- Kisspeptin as a test of hypothalamic dysfunction in pubertal and reproductive disorders.Andrology · 2026Review
- Endocrine Adaptations to Prolonged Fasting: From Physiology, Clinical Uncertainties, Translational Challenges to Healthspan Implications.Nutrients · 2025Review
- Expanding the Spectrum of Endocrine Abnormalities Associated With SOX11-related Disorders.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2025Article
- Diagnosis and treatment of hypogonadism in men seeking to preserve fertility - what are the options?International journal of impotence research · 2025Review
- A Current Perspective on Delayed Puberty and Its ManagementJournal of clinical research in pediatric endocrinology · 2024Review
- Variety of genetic defects in GnRH and hypothalamic-pituitary signaling and development in normosmic patients with IHH.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2024Article
- Gene-environment interaction in functional hypothalamic amenorrhea.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2024Review
- New perspectives in functional hypogonadotropic hypogonadism: beyond late onset hypogonadism.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2023Review
- Recent Update on the Molecular Mechanisms of Gonadal Steroids Action in Adipose Tissue.International journal of molecular sciences · 2021Review
- Relative energy deficiency in sports (RED-S): elucidation of endocrine changes affecting the health of males and females.Hormones (Athens, Greece) · 2021Review
- Genetics of congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism: peculiarities and phenotype of an oligogenic disease.Human genetics · 2021Review
- Hypogonadism in Exercising Males: Dysfunction or Adaptive-Regulatory Adjustment?Frontiers in endocrinology · 2020Review
- Functional Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism in Men: Underlying Neuroendocrine Mechanisms and Natural History.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2019Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors at 5 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
contextAfter completion of puberty a subset of men experience functional hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (FHH) secondary to excessive exercise or weight loss. This phenomenon is akin to hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA) in women, yet little is known about FHH in men.
objectiveTo investigate the neuroendocrine mechanisms, genetics, and natural history underlying FHH.
designRetrospective study in an academic medical center.
participantsHealthy postpubertal men presenting with symptoms of hypogonadism in the setting of excessive exercise (>10 hours/week) or weight loss (>10% of body weight). Healthy age-matched men served as controls.
interventionsClinical assessment, biochemical and neuroendocrine profiling, body composition, semen analysis, and genetic evaluation of genes known to cause isolated GnRH deficiency.
main outcome measuresReproductive hormone levels, endogenous GnRH-induced LH pulse patterns, and rare genetic variants.
resultsTen men with FHH were compared with 18 age-matched controls. Patients had significantly lower body mass index, testosterone, LH, and mean LH pulse amplitudes yet normal LH pulse frequency, serum FSH, and sperm counts. Some patients exhibited nocturnal, sleep-entrained LH pulses characteristic of early puberty, and one FHH subject showed a completely apulsatile LH secretion. After decreased exercise and weight gain, five men with men had normalized serum testosterone levels, and symptoms resolved. Rare missense variants in NSMF (n = 1) and CHD7 (n = 1) were identified in two men with FHH.
conclusionsFHH is a rare, reversible form of male GnRH deficiency. LH pulse patterns in male FHH are similar to those observed in women with HA. This study expands the spectrum of GnRH deficiency disorders in men.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.