DISEASES OF THE SEXUAL GLANDS IN CHILDREN

Disorders of the gonads (testes and ovaries) in children can affect growth, puberty, sexual maturation, bone health and future reproductive function. The principal conditions discussed in this article are precocious puberty, hypogonadism and delayed puberty. Causes include abnormal activation or impairment of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, genetic conditions, congenital abnormalities, tumors, chronic illness and treatment-related gonadal injury. Diagnosis is based on the history, growth pattern, physical examination, hormonal investigations and selected imaging or genetic tests. Management is individualized according to the cause, age, pubertal stage and likely benefits of treatment.