Given two differning treatment plans for 161/2 yr. old with hypogonadism and delayed puberty

I would greatly appreciate your help on my son's delayed puberty/hypogonadism diagnosis from two pediatric endocrinologists who seem polorized on treatment.  We don't know which route to chose or whether to seek still another route of treatment.

Son:
5' 10 1/2 "; 222 lbs; gynecomastia for 4+ yrs.
voice not yet changed & extremely low energy/endurance in sports which he plays 5 days a week, 2 hours daily
birth measurement was 23.25 inches long and consistently in 95 % grwth until 10 where he dropped over next 2.5 years into 50 % on grwth chrt and developed  obesity depite active involvement in sports. Fell from nationally ranked (in top 25) of his sport as endurance declined to point of inability to compete due to fatigue.
He was nationally ranked in his sport until his endurance level dropped to the point of no longer being able to competeIn last 6 months he has developed leg hair.   Father is 6'7 and mother is 5' 7" with no family history of delayed puberty.

After lab work results, done at 16 yr old birthday well check by family doctor, he was started on Androgel 1% 4 pumps daily and referred to a pediatric-endocrinologist
8/1/08:  lab results (drawn at 11 a.m.):  
Serum testosterone 92 ng/dL
TSH  3.028 uIU/dL
Cortisol 7.7


9/25/08: lab results and exam by ped-endo
exam:  penile stretched length 8.5 cm; testicular volumes 15 cc for both right and left testicles; pubic hair tanner V
labs: bone age read as 14 yrs., 0 months
Told to discontinue Androgel and retest testosterone and FSH and LH drawn mid November

11/15/08 labwork results:
testosterone 91 and FSH and LH were well below normal (I no longer have exact numbers)
Endo asked me, the parent whether or not I wanted him to start testosterone and he wouldn't say what the pros and cons were so I sought a second opinion.

12/15/08 sought another ped-endo opinion who evaluated our son at Tanner stage V for hair and penile stretch at 11 cm and testicular volume at 9.0 and didn't note testicular volumes.
Labs:
testosterone free or total?  (drawn at 8 am)  was 188 and LSH and FH were well below normal (one was 1.0  i believe and the other in the 80's?) Cortisol was high on blood test and normal on 24 hr. urine collection so this ped said they considered it a wash.

MRI of hypothalamus and pituitary gland were normal

This ped endo (newly finished with residency) said to start Androgel 1%, 4 pumps daily and that it would NOT close growth plates prematurely (the first endo-ped said testosterone WOULD stunt his growth.

My husband and I don't know what to do as far as treatment.  The two different treatments are so differing.  We do not want to stunt his growth prematurely, but he lacks such energy and is extremely self-conscious due to his physical appearance.  Any suggestions or opinions would be greatly appreciated by us.  

With much appreciation,

Anne

[RockRose]

Your post may be beyond the expertise of this board,  you may want to post on the expert forums.

I do have a couple thoughts,  though:

His height is average at this point.  I know for men,  taller is better,  but it isn't like you have to consider a very short child at this point.  He's an average male height,  so stunting his height growth may not be the most important factor.

Excessive exercise,  which it certainly sounds like he  experienced,  causes delay in puberty.

He sounds like he has hypothyroidism to me.  Thyroid disease is INCREDIBLY tricky to diagnose,  and an MRI of the glands won't do it,  and often blood tests are confusing - a person can be in the "normal" range for all readings,  but in fact,  some are high normal,  some are low normal,  creating a terrible imbalance but at a glance appear to be ok.

Check out this link:

http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/growth/thyroid.html

Best wishes.  I think your attention to this,  and seeking information,  will get you the answers you are looking for.