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What is hypopituitarism?Hypopituitarism is a disorder in which your body doesn’t make enough hormones from the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is a small, bean-shaped gland at the base of your brain. It plays a role in controlling your body’s endocrine system. The endocrine system is a group of glands that produce and secrete hormones to regulate your body’s processes. In hypopituitarism, the pituitary gland fails to produce or doesn’t produce enough of one or more of its hormones. When your pituitary gland doesn’t produce enough hormones, your body functions are affected. The pituitary gland is responsible for releasing:
What are the symptoms of hypopituitarism?It’s possible for the symptoms of hypopituitarism to appear suddenly. But it’s much more common for them to develop over time. Because of this, they’re often overlooked for months or years. Possible symptoms include:
Men may also experience:
Women may also experience:
Children may also experience:
You should see a doctor immediately if certain symptoms of hypopituitarism develop suddenly. These include:
Sudden onset of these symptoms could be a sign of sudden bleeding into the pituitary. This is called pituitary apoplexy, which is a serious condition. What causes hypopituitarism?Hypopituitarism is commonly caused by a tumor in the pituitary gland. A tumor can squeeze the pituitary gland as it grows, which can cause damage. A pituitary tumor can also put pressure on the optic nerves in the eyes and cause visual problems. Other causes of hypopituitarism are:
Hypopituitarism can also be caused by diseases of the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is a portion of the brain located just above the pituitary gland. It’s responsible for producing hormones that help the pituitary gland function normally. In other cases, the cause of hypopituitarism may be unknown. How is hypopituitarism diagnosed?If you have symptoms of hypopituitarism, your doctor may order blood tests to check your hormone levels. Or you doctor may want to check for pituitary tumors or defects. This is done using a computerized tomography (CT) scan or for more detail and smaller concerns, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of your brain. Your doctor may do several vision tests to see if your sight is being affected. In children, X-rays can measure whether bones are growing normally. Your doctor may also want you to see an endocrinologist. This is a doctor who studies the endocrine system. You may need to go to a special endocrine clinic for other tests. Can hypopituitarism be prevented or avoided?In most cases, you can’t prevent this disorder. Some medicines can suppress pituitary function. This can cause hypopituitarism. Ask your doctor about these risks if you’re taking glucocorticoids (such as prednisone and dexamethasone). Hypopituitarism treatmentYour doctor will treat the condition that’s causing your hypopituitarism first. This can help restore your pituitary gland’s ability to produce hormones. If a tumor on your pituitary gland is causing your hypopituitarism, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove it. Or they may recommend radiation therapy to shrink it. Sometimes, even after treatment, your body doesn’t produce enough of one or more pituitary hormones. In these cases, your doctor may prescribe a hormone replacement medicine to add to your body’s hormone production. Hormone replacement medicines include:
If you’re taking hormone replacement medicine, your doctor may want to regularly monitor your hormone level. Doing so will make sure you’re getting the right amount of replacement hormones. If you become very sick (such as with the flu) or go through a stressful time, your doctor may adjust the dose of replacement hormone you take (just as a normally functioning pituitary gland would do). You might also need a dose adjustment if you become pregnant or have a significant change in weight. You should carry a medical alert card and bracelet at all times. This way, emergency medical workers know what kind of care you need in case of emergency. Living with hypopituitarismManaging hypopituitarism using hormone replacement therapy is often successful. Just remember that you’ll need to check in regularly with your doctor to monitor hormone levels. Questions to ask your doctor
ResourcesWhat happens if you don't have pituitary gland?You can live without your pituitary gland as long as you take medication to replace the pituitary hormones that you're missing. The pituitary gland hormones are very important for maintaining several bodily functions. An untreated lack of all the pituitary hormones is life-threatening.
How do you know if your pituitary gland is not working?In adults, symptoms include low energy, decreased strength and exercise tolerance, weight gain, decreased muscle mass, and feelings of anxiety or depression.
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