A 25-year-old male presents with fatigue, constipation, and sexual dysfunction. Tests reveal all pituitary hormones are normal and no masses are appreciated. The most likely cause of his symptoms is a dysfunction in the:

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Since all pituitary hormones are normal and no masses are found, the dysfunction is likely in the hypothalamus which controls hormonal regulation via the pituitary gland. The symptoms of fatigue, constipation, and sexual dysfunction suggest a possible deficiency in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function, which can lead to decreased levels of cortisol and testosterone.

A 25-Year-Old Male Presents with Fatigue, Constipation, and Sexual Dysfunction