'trophism' means acting on or having an affect on. In this context the term hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism means that the sex organs have remained in their pre-pubertal state having not received the correct signals or inducement to under go the normal changes seen during puberty.

Kleinfelter’s syndrome in males and Turner’s syndrome in females are hypergonadotrophic disorders. They both still cause hypogonadism but the levels of circulating pituitary hormones are raised rather than lowered as seen in Kallmann’s and other forms of hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism.