A Comprehensive Guide on ICD-10 Codes for Hypogonadism 2025

A medical condition where the organs that make sex hormones, like the testes in men or ovaries in women, don’t work as well as they should is called hypogonadism.

 

In this detailed guide, we’ll walk you through some of the most commonly used ICD-10 codes for hypogonadism, including E29.1 (Testicular hypofunction), E28.3 (Primary ovarian failure), and E23.0 (Hypopituitarism). With the correct code, you’re not just meeting documentation standards — you’re ensuring the patient’s condition is clearly described and your claims are reimbursed without delays.

What is Hypogonadism?

Hypogonadism is a medical condition affecting people with less functioning gonads – testes in males and ovaries in females –  and insufficient production of sex hormones. Some people are born with it, while others develop it over time. It could be due to an injury or infection. Hormone replacement therapy is known to be effective for treating a few types of hypogonadism.

Mainly, there are two types of hypogonadism.

• Primary Hypogonadism
• Central Hypogonadism

Primary Hypogonadism

The main reason for primary hypogonadism is any problem of the testis (in men) and ovary (in women). Simply saying, when the gonads don’t produce enough hormones, it leads to low testosterone in males and low estrogen in females. Primary hypogonadism is the main reason behind infertility, reduced sex drive, and hormonal imbalances.

Central Hypogonadism

Central hypogonadism is experienced when the parts of the brain that stimulate the gonads and help produce sex hormones don’t work properly. This dysfunction affects the pituitary gland and hypothalamus, leading to infertility, absent sexual development, and other symptoms caused by hormone deficiency.

Causes of Hypogonadism

The issue of hypogonadism may be due to genetic, menopausal, autoimmune, and viral reasons. Another valid reason behind this sexual disorder is known to be cancer treatment, the radiation involved, or the chemotherapy treatment to treat cancer.

Some other known lifestyle reasons behind this deficiency or lack of sexual development are fasting, weight loss, stress, and eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia.

Common Symptoms of Hypogonadism

Symptoms differ between men and women based on the role of sex hormones in multiple biological functions. Some common symptoms for men and women are:

Hypogonadism Symptoms in Men	Hypogonadism Symptoms in Women
Low libido and erectile dysfunction	Irregular or absent menstruation
Decreased muscle mass and strength	Slow or absent breast development
Infertility	Hot flashes
Osteoporosis	Infertility

ICD-10 Codes for Hypogonadism

Hypogonadism is a significant condition that reflects the insufficient production of sexual hormones in the human body, i.e., testosterone in men and estrogen in women. Caused by the dysfunction of gonadal or hypothalamic disorders, the ICD-10 codes for hypogonadism for easy identification and classification are as follows.

Frequently Used ICD-10-CM Codes for Hypogonadism

Divided into two types, i.e., primary hypogonadism and central or secondary hypogonadism. Both main types come with distinct causes, pathophysiology, and ICD-10 codes for medical classification. These codes and their classification/description signify the underlying mechanism of the condition suffered by patients.

ICD-10 Codes for Primary Hypogonadism

E29.1 – Testicular Hypofunction

It is a diagnosis code referring to the condition where the testes don’t produce the required amount of testosterone or male hormones. The reason behind it could be testicular failure, Klinefelter’s syndrome, or conditions that directly influence testicular functioning. E29.1: Testicular hypofunction for males includes orchitis, testicular trauma, or chemotherapy-induced testicular damage.

E28.39 – Other Primary Ovarian Failure

This ICD-10 code reflects ovarian failure happening prior to the age of menopause (around 50 years). This code doesn’t refer to other specific causes like surgery, radiation, and certain diseases. Also known as primary ovarian insufficiency, E28.38 is a condition that shows when a woman’s ovaries don’t work as supposed, i.e., limited estrogen production at a certain age.

ICD-10 Codes for Secondary (Central) Hypogonadism

E23.0 – Hypopituitarism

E23.0 signifies a condition in which the pituitary gland is unable to produce a sufficient amount of hormones. Based on which hormone is short, suffering patients can experience multiple symptoms like stunted growth, issues with thyroid, or even psychological issues. Pituitary gland dysfunction can be due to reasons like tumors, hereditary conditions and damage to the pituitary gland.

E23.1 – Drug-Induced Hypopituitarism

This ICD-10-CM code for drug-induced hypopituitarism stands for impaired functioning of the pituitary gland. The main reason behind it is the adverse effect of certain medications like prolonged use of glucocorticoids. It may lead to hormonal imbalance and other disorders of the pituitary gland.

E23.2 – Diabetes Insipidus of Pituitary Origin

Although it isn’t a direct cause of hypogonadism, diabetes insipidus may co-exist with pituitary dysfunction, which could lead to central hypogonadism. E23.2 stands for a condition where the human body loses the ability to produce enough vasopressin or antidiuretic hormone (ADH). The main function of this hormone is to enable kidneys to conserve fluids. Its insufficiency results in excessive urination and thirst.

E23.3 – Hypothalamic Dysfunction

This medical classification refers to a condition where the hypothalamus doesn’t function properly. The hypothalamus is a region of the forebrain responsible for regulating several body functions, like coordinating the autonomic nervous system and the activity of the pituitary. This improper functioning is responsible for affecting hormones, metabolism, and other essential bodily processes.

ICD-10 Codes for Hypogonadism Unspecified

There are certain instances where hypogonadism is diagnosed without enough clinical detail to help healthcare providers determine the type of particular cause leading to it. In the tenth edition of the International Classification of Diseases, such cases are medically classified as Hypogonadism Unspecified. This happens when the clinical information doesn’t let healthcare providers categorize further. However, the condition is detected clearly.

E29.9 – Testicular dysfunction, unspecified

This code is used in claim forms and medical documentation when a male shows signs of hypogonadism, i.e., testosterone levels, decreased libido, infertility, or reduced muscle mass. However, the actual reason may not be clear, like testicular, pituitary, hypothalamic, etc.  

E28.9 – Ovarian Dysfunction, unspecified

This code represents ovarian dysfunction in females, which indicates improper functioning of the ovaries. However, it comes with no specific details or a detected reason. The female could be suffering from irregular menstruation, infertility, or low estrogen levels, with the cause remaining unknown.

Differences Between Primary, Secondary, And Unspecified Hypogonadism

Following is a tabular form of the differences between the primary, secondary, and unspecified hypogonadism. By going through the information below, you’ll quickly grasp the differences and the specifics involved with each type.

Aspect	Primary Hypogonadism	Secondary Hypogonadism	Unspecified Hypogonadism
Origin	Gonadal failure (testes/ovaries)	Hypothalamus or pituitary dysfunction	Cause not clearly defined or unknown
Gonadotropin Levels	High (LH and FSH)	Low or normal (LH and FSH)	May vary, often unspecified
Common Causes	Genetic syndromes, trauma, infection	Pituitary tumors, hypothalamic disorders	Not enough information to determine
Common Causes	Genetic syndromes, trauma, infection	Pituitary tumors, hypothalamic disorders	Not enough information to determine
Symptoms	Lack of secondary sexual characteristics, infertility, low libido	Similar symptoms as primary but with additional features of pituitary/hypothalamic dysfunction (e.g., headaches, vision changes)	General symptoms of hypogonadism without specific origin
Key ICD-10 Codes	E29.1, E28.39, E89.5	E23.0, E23.1, E23.3	E29.9 (Male hypogonadism, unspecified), E28.9 (Female hypogonadism, unspecified)

Key Clinical Indicators For Diagnosis

Testosterone levels below 300 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL) serve as a key indicator for accurate diagnosis. Two separate morning testosterone measurements are required to confirm the condition.

Common clinical indicators include:

• Reduced sex drive and erectile dysfunction
• Loss of muscle mass and increased body fat
• Mood changes and fatigue
• Decreased bone density
• Hot flashes

When to Use Hypogonadism Codes?

The following are the use case scenarios when ICD-10-CM codes for hypogonadism are used.

Medical Billing and Reimbursement

Appending the updated codes from the tenth edition of the International Classification of Diseases, backed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, helps healthcare providers get complete and timely reimbursements against medical services rendered. Using codes like E29.1 and E28.39 is considered significant for accurate billing and getting claims approved by the insurance.

Clinical Diagnosis

Accurate usage of hypogonadism codes in documentation helps healthcare providers track the details associated with and the prevalence of hypogonadism. It promises to strategize world-class care and better provision of services to patients to achieve the desired outcomes.

Epidemiological Studies

ICD-10-CM codes for hypogonadism are crucial to understanding the impact of hypogonadism globally. It not only helps make way for effective and better public health policies but also allows for better allocation of resources.

Billable ICD-10 Codes for Hypogonadism

To make life easy for healthcare providers, their assisting staff, and medical billing and coding agencies, it is crucial to note that all ICD-10 codes for hypogonadism mentioned in this article are billable and used by healthcare specialists in claims to get reimbursements from insurance companies.

Codes like E29.1, E28.39, E23.0, E23.1, E23.2, E23.3, E29.9, and E28.9, whether they are for primary, secondary, or unspecified hypogonadism, are used in the medical billing process to treat, diagnose, and document hypogonadism-related cases.

Common Rejection Reasons for Hypogonadism Claims

In the current times, insurance claims get denied due to various reasons, leading to loss of revenue or payments withheld by the payor. Many practitioners either don’t focus on proper treatment or diagnose hypogonadism incorrectly.

In many cases, patients – be they male or female – do suffer from primary or secondary hypogonadism, and even if the diagnosis or treatment is correct, they use the incorrect codes or enter the wrong description. Out of all the men receiving testosterone therapy, only one has undergone the proper follow-up testing to monitor their treatment effectively.

Some other reasons for claim denials are as follows.

• Appending incomplete codes or only the default ones, as healthcare professionals or anyone responsible for claim creation, aren’t aware of the new sub-codes.
• When entering codes in claims, they tend to mix 0 with the letter O.
• Still using ICD-9 codes instead of the updated ICD-10 codes.  

Documentation Checklist

You need to work on this document checklist to ensure that everything falls into place and that you achieve a high claim acceptance rate, receive full reimbursements, and track patient care effectively.

Laboratory Results

• Two morning total testosterone measurements
• Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels
• PSA levels for patients over 40 years
• More hormone tests (LH, FSH) if needed

Clinical Assessment

• Detailed symptom history
• Physical examination findings
• Risk factor evaluation
• Treatment response monitoring

Treatment Monitoring

• Follow-up testosterone measurements at 3-6 months
• Annual evaluations for adverse effects
• Documentation of symptom improvements
• Ongoing risk assessment

The medical billing staff or team looking after administrative tasks must maintain all clinical documents to support the code used in the claim form. This way, they can easily track the details regarding the specific hypogonadism code. For instance, the reason behind the medical needs, how it will be diagnosed, expected results, time taken during the treatment, and related conditions.

An interesting aspect that many experienced healthcare providers emphasize is that patient monitoring should never stop and must go on even when the patient is stabilized. To stay safe from the risk and recurring issues, patients must go through periodic hormone testing to evaluate any potential risks (if any).  

Avoiding Documentation Errors

Accurate documentation with error-free information entry and precise appending of ICD-10 codes hold is like gold dust in medical billing. The same stands true for hypogonadism. Avoiding errors, ensuring flawless claim creation, and getting complete revenue against low testosterone ICD-10 claims are at the heart of practice billing.

According to studies, one in every four claims submitted gets denied, and the same goes for these claims. This is where the experience, expertise, and attention to detail come in. If the healthcare provider or their assisting team doesn’t find time for such administrative tasks or they want to focus on the provision of quality care, they must outsource hypogonadism to a reliable medical billing and coding company.

Consult The Best Hypogonadism Billing Company

At I-Med Claims, we know hypogonadism is a complex medical condition, and billing for it is even more challenging and arduous. As healthcare specialists, you specialize in diagnosing, treating, and making patients feel better. However, the real problem begins when the reimbursement part begins.

It consists of technical knowledge, hypogonadism billing, and coding expertise, knowledge of hypogonadism claims submission guidelines, and staying current with the latest updates of ICD to achieve reimbursements.

As a healthcare provider, your job is to provide exceptional healthcare services to patients and not waste time on time-consuming tasks like charge capture, claim scrubbing, claim submission, denial management, follow-ups, etc. It’s a specialist job, so let I-Med Claims do it for you.

We are hypogonadism billing specialists and ensure that you receive every dollar against the provision of high-end medical services. We understand the nuances of correct coding and support clinical accuracy to enhance your revenue manifold and build your practice credibility.