The pituitary is a small endocrine gland at the base of the brain that controls several other glands through its hormones. Too little or too much of its hormones leads to various disorders.
What is the pituitary gland and which hormones does it produce?
The pituitary is an endocrine gland weighing about 0.5 grams, located at the base of the brain. By releasing different hormones, it regulates the work of other glands.
The 5 main pituitary hormones:
- TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) — regulates the hormones of the thyroid gland in the neck. When these hormones are lacking, both mental activity and the body’s metabolism slow down.
- FSH and LH (hormones stimulating the reproductive organs) — stimulate the testes in men and the ovaries in women, supporting sexual function and fertility.
- ACTH (adrenal-stimulating hormone) — drives cortisol release from the adrenal glands. Cortisol is essential for proper immune function and for maintaining blood pressure and adequate fluid levels in the blood vessels.
- GH (growth hormone) — drives height growth during the growing years.
- Prolactin (milk-stimulating hormone) — enables breastfeeding in women after childbirth.
Pituitary disorders and pituitary insufficiency
Pituitary disorders fall into two groups: those caused by too little and those caused by too much pituitary hormone.
When one or more of the 5 main hormones is produced in insufficient amounts, the condition is called pituitary insufficiency (hypopituitarism). With a timely and correct diagnosis, it can be treated.
Causes of pituitary insufficiency
- Adenomas (benign pituitary tumours) — one of the main causes.
- Head injuries — for example, from car accidents or heavy contact sports such as boxing.
Which symptoms may point to pituitary insufficiency?
Symptoms of pituitary insufficiency are usually mild and develop slowly, so a person may live with the condition for years without noticing. Pay attention to the following signs:
- Headache and worsening vision (loss of visual field) — caused by a pituitary adenoma or another mass pressing on the optic nerve above the gland. It may start as mild impairment and progress to complete loss of vision. With early diagnosis and removal of the mass, vision loss can be reversed.
- In men: reduced sexual function, infertility, decreased body hair.
- In women: lighter or completely absent periods (amenorrhoea), infertility.
- Feeling cold, increased sleepiness, weight gain, dry skin, fatigue, weakness, low blood pressure, excessive thirst and frequent urination (drinking more than 2.5–3 litres of water a day), intolerance to hunger.
What should you do if you suspect a pituitary problem?
The symptoms in the last item are not typical of pituitary insufficiency. However, if they persist for a long time and do not improve with treatment, pituitary insufficiency should be considered.
In such cases, see an endocrinologist. If an MRI scan reveals a pituitary adenoma or another mass, the help of a neurosurgeon may be needed.
How is pituitary insufficiency treated?
After a physical and imaging examination and the relevant laboratory tests, the endocrinologist starts treatment aimed at replacing the missing hormone. The duration of treatment depends on the type of hormone and the degree of deficiency.
With regular follow-up visits and correctly taken treatment, it is possible both to be relieved of symptoms and to achieve regression of the disease.
The information on this page is general and does not replace a medical examination.