Fertility Issues for Patients with Hypogonadotropic Causes of Delayed Puberty

Abstract

Delayed puberty presenting with low gonadotropins has multiple causes. Self-limited delay (constitutional delay) is generally considered benign, but adult height and bone mineral density may be compromised, and fertility has not been studied. Functional hypogonadotropic hypogonadism due to a stressor is thought to resolve with removal of the stressor, but reproductive endocrine dysfunction can sometimes persist. Most but not all patients with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, a typically long-lasting condition, can achieve fertility with exogenous hormone therapy. Future studies are needed to determine fertility outcomes in self-limited delayed puberty and to more clearly define prognostic factors for fertility in functional and idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.

Keywords: Bone mineral density; Delayed puberty; Fertility; Functional hypogonadotropic hypogonadism; Height; Hypothalamic amenorrhea; Idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.