Hypopituitarism is a rare pituitary disorder in Newport Beach that occurs when your pituitary gland secretes insufficient hormones or fails to produce one or several hormones. The pituitary gland is part of your body’s endocrine system and is located at the base of your brain. It releases hormones or chemicals that control various body functions and several other hormones secreting glands. These include the testicles, ovaries, and adrenal glands. The following expounds more on hypopituitarism.
What are the symptoms of hypopituitarism?
Signs and symptoms of hypopituitarism develop gradually and get worse with time. This disorder’s signs and symptoms vary from person to person, depending on the type and severity of the affected hormone. If you have a deficiency of more than one hormone, the second deficiency may overlap the symptoms of the first one. The following are the different hormone deficiencies and their respective signs.
Luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone deficiency
These hormones affect the reproductive, and their deficiency often results in the decline of egg and estrogen production in the ovaries in women. Other symptoms that women may experience include hot flashes, loss of pubic hair, irregular or no periods, and inability to produce breast milk for the baby. For men, the deficiency may decrease sperm and testosterone production. They may also have mood changes, erectile dysfunction, and decreased facial or body hair. Children may experience delayed puberty as the only symptom when this occurs in children.
Growth hormone deficiency
Children who produce inadequate growth hormones may experience growth problems or have short stature. The same deficiency may not cause any symptoms in adults. Still, for some, it may result in muscle weakness, fatigue, alterations in body fat composition, social isolation, and lack of ambition.
Thyroid-stimulating hormone deficiency
A deficiency in the production of this hormone causes hypothyroidism, which may result in weight gain, constipation, dry skin, fatigue, and sensitivity to cold.
Adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency
Adrenocorticotropic hormone promotes the function of adrenal glands and helps your body react to stress. A decline in the production of this hormone may result in symptoms such as confusion, low blood pressure, severe fatigue, recurring and prolonged infections, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
What causes hypopituitarism?
Most cases of this disorder occur when a tumor grows in the pituitary gland. As the tumor grows, it may press on the pituitary tissue, damaging it and interfering with hormone production. If the tumor presses the optic nerve, you may have visual disturbances. While this disorder mainly results from a pituitary tumor; it may occur due to several other reasons such as:
- Head injuries
- Medications. Checkpoint inhibitors used for cancer treatment may cause this disorder. Others like narcotics and high-dose corticosteroids can also trigger hypopituitarism.
- Brain surgery
- Radiation treatment to the head and neck
When should I seek medical help?
Always contact your doctor when you experience any of the above symptoms associated with hypopituitarism. If the signs develop suddenly, seek emergency help since this might indicate pituitary apoplexy. You may experience other symptoms such as a drop in blood pressure, vision problems, severe headache, and confusion when this happens.
If you have further inquiries about hypopituitarism, consult with your doctor at Dr. Sean P. Nikravan, MD.