Pituitary disorders

The pituitary gland is often called the ‘conductor of the endocrine orchestra.’ It produces hormones that stimulate and activate other endocrine glands, including the adrenal glands, the thyroid, the testes and the ovaries. Each of these glands has many complex interactions. When your pituitary gland is damaged or doesn’t function properly, it can cause severe repercussions to many vital functions, including metabolic rate, childhood growth and development, stress response, reproductive functioning and breastfeeding. Most pituitary disorders result from an enlargement of the pituitary gland caused by benign tumours. These tumours can disrupt your hormonal balance by causing too much or too little of a particular hormone to be produced and have damaging effects on your vision. If you have a pituitary disorder, you’ll need urgent and skilled care from a specialist endocrinologist.  

The pituitary gland sits right in the middle of your head below the brain. It hangs from a stalk like a cherry, just behind the nasal passages.  

The pituitary gland is responsible for ‘orchestrating’ the following hormones and their functions: 

• • Cortisol is secreted by the adrenal glands to regulate your body’s response to stress and respond to infection.
  • Thyroid hormones are produced in the thyroid gland and control your body’s metabolic rate.
  • Prolactin is the hormone responsible for breast milk production, and too much of it can impair fertility.
  • Testosterone, produced in the testes, is needed for sperm production in men.

• Oestrogen is produced in the ovaries and affects ovulation in women, among many other essential functions, including maintaining bone health. 

• Growth hormone (GH) controls growth and development in children.

• Vasopressin (also called the antidiuretic hormone) helps your kidneys manage the amount of water in your body.

Each of these hormones plays a complex and crucial role in the body’s proper functioning. It’s important to note that they are responsible for many other functions in addition to the ones listed above, so any imbalance of these hormones can cause wide-ranging health complications. 

What are the signs and symptoms of a pituitary disorder?

Depending on the gland and hormones affected, pituitary disorders can cause a wide range of different signs and symptoms, including: 

• fatigue
• vision problems
• headaches
• changes in blood pressure
• frequent urination/excessive thirst
• low sex drive
• delayed puberty
• weight changes
• abnormal growth
• irregular periods
• low fertility
• excessive sweating
• difficulty sleeping
• dizziness
• osteoporosis
• body temperature problems
• skin changes

What causes pituitary disorders?

The leading cause of pituitary disorders is small, benign tumours called adenomas. A functioning adenoma is a tumour that secretes one or more active hormones. However, the more common type of pituitary tumour is a non-functioning adenoma. It does not produce active hormones, but its large size pressing on the pituitary gland can cause headaches, vision problems and hormone deficiencies. 

Because pituitary disorders are so rare, it can be difficult for a primary care doctor to recognise the signs and symptoms. If you see your GP about many of these symptoms, they will often investigate other, more common conditions first, leading to a delay in diagnosis that can understandably cause uncertainty and frustration. 

Endocrinologists have a higher level of experience and ongoing training that cannot be matched by a general practitioner. Pituitary disorders should be treated by an endocrinologist who will ensure that you have access to the latest cutting-edge diagnostic investigations and treatments. 

Book a consultation with one of our expert endocrinologists today. 

• Prolactinoma – This is the most common form of pituitary tumour, which causes an overproduction of prolactin, the hormone responsible for breast milk production.
• Hypopituitarism – This rare disorder causes your pituitary to underproduce one or more hormones. When you experience a lack of one of these hormones, it can cause a number of endocrinological conditions, such as:
  • Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) leads to hypothyroidism
  • Growth hormone (GH) leads to short stature
  • Cortisol can cause adrenal insufficiency
  • Testosterone can cause loss of virility and infertility
  • Oestrogen can cause an absence of periods and infertility.   
• Cushing’s disease – When the body’s adrenal glands produce too much cortisol, it can cause many health complications, including high blood pressure, diabetes, depression and weakened bones.
• Acromegaly – This is a rare condition in which the body produces too much growth hormone, leading to an enlargement of the hands, feet and internal organs and a change in facial features. Long-term side complications of acromegaly can include type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis and heart disease.
• Delayed puberty and growth disorders – The pituitary gland is responsible for the production of growth hormone and male and female sex hormones. When there is a problem with the production of these hormones in childhood, it can cause growth problems or delayed puberty.
• Pituitary diabetes insipidus – Not to be confused with diabetes mellitus, which involves high blood sugar levels, diabetes insipidus is a disorder in which the kidneys cannot balance fluids in the body. It is characterised by excessive thirst and excessive urination.