Hormone Replacement Therapy
Everything You Need to Know About the Pituitary Gland
Located behind the nose and close to the bottom part of your brain, the pituitary gland is connected to the hypothalamus by a short, stalk-like piece of dense tissue and resembles the average, garden-variety pea. This incredibly small gland secretes multiple hormones that help regulate the functioning of several endocrine glands such as the ovaries, testes, and thyroid.1
Although the pituitary gland is often called the “master” gland, it receives messages from the hypothalamus telling it when to reduce or increase the production of hormones. So, unless the hypothalamus is functioning properly, the pituitary won’t function normally, either.
Pituitary Gland Hormones
The posterior lobe of the pituitary gland releases hormones per signaling by the hypothalamus. The anterior lobe of the pituitary gland not only produces hormones but releases them as well.2
Anterior lobe hormones include:
- Prolactin–stimulates production of breast milk
- Thyroid-stimulating hormone–needed to promote release of thyroid hormones from the thyroid gland
- Adrenocorticotropic hormone–stimulates your adrenal glands to release cortisol and other steroid hormones
- Growth hormone--regulates metabolism, physical development/growth and the composition (muscle and fat storage) of your body
- Follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormone (gonadotrophins)–these hormones stimulate the testes and ovaries to produce sex hormones and promote maturation of sperm and eggs.
The hypothalamus produces two hormones that are stored in the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland. One of these hormones is vasopressin, an anti-diuretic that also controls blood pressure and water balance in the body. The other hormone called oxytocin stimulates labor contractions and promotes secretion of milk during breastfeeding.3
Disorders of the Pituitary Gland
Cushing’s Syndrome (Hypercortisolism)
If your body is subjected to excessive levels of cortisol for an extended period (from taking corticosteroid medications, for example), you might develop a fatty lump between the shoulder, a rounder face and purplish or pinkish stretch marks across your skin. Left untreated, Cushing Syndrome often causes loss of bone density (osteoporosis), hypertension and possibly type 2 diabetes.4
In some cases, Cushing Syndrome results from the pituitary making too much adrenocorticotropic hormone. When this is the reason for symptoms of Cushing Syndrome, your doctor will prescribe medications to control production of this hormone by the pituitary gland.
Adult-onset Growth Hormone Deficiency
Adults diagnosed with GH deficiency have a pituitary gland damaged permanently in adulthood or childhood. This damage is typically caused by a tumor that has finally grown large enough to interfere with normal functioning of the gland.
Clinical features of adult-onset GH deficiency involve development of excess abdominal fat, reduction in muscle mass, decreased muscle strength and obesity. Overall well-being is also affected, with adults suffering GH deficiency experiencing low energy, fatigue, depression, anxiety and recurring infections. Treatment involves receiving regular injections of growth hormone as prescribed by a doctor.5
Diabetes Insipidus
People with diabetes insipidus are constantly thirsty, drink copious amounts of water and produce large amounts of urine because their body is unable to regulate fluid levels. Complications from untreated diabetes insipidus include dehydration, nausea, weakness, muscle cramps, confusion and appetite loss due to a severe electrolyte imbalance.6
The hormone vasopressin regulates how slow or how fast your body excretes fluids. Since the pituitary gland stores vasopressin produced by the hypothalamus, damage to the pituitary or tumors could interfere with the ability of the pituitary to release enough vasopressin to prevent diabetes insipidus.
Hypopituitarism
An uncommon disorder inhibiting production of one or more hormones by the pituitary gland, hypopituitarism causes a variety symptom that depend on which hormone is missing from your body. For example, if a woman cannot produce breast milk, has hot flashes even though she is not in menopause, experiences irregular periods and an unnatural loss of pubic hair, her pituitary gland may be making little to no follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormone.7
Hypopituitarism involving a thyroid-stimulating deficiency causes extreme fatigue, weight gain, dry skin, sensitivity to cold and constipation. An adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency due to hypopituitarism leads to severe lack of energy, low blood pressure, dizziness/fainting, nausea/vomiting and frequent infections.
Treatment for Pituitary Disorders
Fortunately, most pituitary conditions are treatable with medications and replacement hormones. Diagnosis of a problem with the pituitary gland involves blood tests, dynamic or stimulation testing, brain imaging scans and/or possibly vision tests to determine if a pituitary tumor is interfering with your sight.8
References
- https://www.hormone.org/your-health-and-hormones/glands-and-hormones-a-to-z/glands/pituitary-gland
- https://www.endocrineweb.com/endocrinology/overview-pituitary-gland
- https://www.healthline.com/human-body-maps/pituitary-gland
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cushing-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20351310
- https://www.yourhormones.info/endocrine-conditions/adult-onset-growth-hormone-deficiency/
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes-insipidus/symptoms-causes/syc-20351269
- https://www.hormone.org/diseases-and-conditions/hypopituitarism
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK278940/
Located behind the nose and close to the bottom part of your brain, the pituitary gland is connected to the hypothalamus by a short, stalk-like piece of dense tissue and resembles the average, garden-variety pea. This incredibly small gland secretes multiple hormones that help regulate functioning of several endocrine glands such as the ovaries, testes and thyroid.1
Although the pituitary gland is often called the “master” gland, it receives messages from the hypothalamus telling it when to reduce or increase production of hormones. So, unless the hypothalamus is functioning properly, the pituitary won’t function normally, either.
Pituitary Gland Hormones
The posterior lobe of the pituitary gland releases hormones per signaling by the hypothalamus. The anterior lobe of the pituitary gland not only produces hormones but releases them as well.2
Anterior lobe hormones include:
- Prolactin–stimulates production of breast milk
- Thyroid-stimulating hormone–needed to promote release of thyroid hormones from the thyroid gland
- Adrenocorticotropic hormone–stimulates your adrenal glands to release cortisol and other steroid hormones
- Growth hormone--regulates metabolism, physical development/growth and the composition (muscle and fat storage) of your body
- Follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormone (gonadotrophins)–these hormones stimulate the testes and ovaries to produce sex hormones and promote maturation of sperm and eggs.
The hypothalamus produces two hormones that are stored in the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland. One of these hormones is vasopressin, an anti-diuretic that also controls blood pressure and water balance in the body. The other hormone called oxytocin stimulates labor contractions and promotes secretion of milk during breastfeeding.3
Disorders of the Pituitary Gland
Cushing’s Syndrome (Hypercortisolism)
If your body is subjected to excessive levels of cortisol for an extended period (from taking corticosteroid medications, for example), you might develop a fatty lump between the shoulder, a rounder face and purplish or pinkish stretch marks across your skin. Left untreated, Cushing Syndrome often causes loss of bone density (osteoporosis), hypertension and possibly type 2 diabetes.4
In some cases, Cushing Syndrome results from the pituitary making too much adrenocorticotropic hormone. When this is the reason for symptoms of Cushing Syndrome, your doctor will prescribe medications to control production of this hormone by the pituitary gland.
Adult-onset Growth Hormone Deficiency
Adults diagnosed with GH deficiency have a pituitary gland damaged permanently in adulthood or childhood. This damage is typically caused by a tumor that has finally grown large enough to interfere with normal functioning of the gland.
Clinical features of adult-onset GH deficiency involve development of excess abdominal fat, reduction in muscle mass, decreased muscle strength and obesity. Overall well-being is also affected, with adults suffering GH deficiency experiencing low energy, fatigue, depression, anxiety and recurring infections. Treatment involves receiving regular injections of growth hormone as prescribed by a doctor.5
Diabetes Insipidus
People with diabetes insipidus are constantly thirsty, drink copious amounts of water and produce large amounts of urine because their body is unable to regulate fluid levels. Complications from untreated diabetes insipidus include dehydration, nausea, weakness, muscle cramps, confusion and appetite loss due to a severe electrolyte imbalance.6
The hormone vasopressin regulates how slow or how fast your body excretes fluids. Since the pituitary gland stores vasopressin produced by the hypothalamus, damage to the pituitary or tumors could interfere with the ability of the pituitary to release enough vasopressin to prevent diabetes insipidus.
Hypopituitarism
An uncommon disorder inhibiting production of one or more hormones by the pituitary gland, hypopituitarism causes a variety symptom that depend on which hormone is missing from your body. For example, if a woman cannot produce breast milk, has hot flashes even though she is not in menopause, experiences irregular periods and an unnatural loss of pubic hair, her pituitary gland may be making little to no follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormone.7
Hypopituitarism involving a thyroid-stimulating deficiency causes extreme fatigue, weight gain, dry skin, sensitivity to cold and constipation. An adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency due to hypopituitarism leads to severe lack of energy, low blood pressure, dizziness/fainting, nausea/vomiting and frequent infections.
Treatment for Pituitary Disorders
Fortunately, most pituitary conditions are treatable with medications and replacement hormones. Diagnosis of a problem with the pituitary gland involves blood tests, dynamic or stimulation testing, brain imaging scans and/or possibly vision tests to determine if a pituitary tumor is interfering with your sight.8
References
- https://www.hormone.org/your-health-and-hormones/glands-and-hormones-a-to-z/glands/pituitary-gland
- https://www.endocrineweb.com/endocrinology/overview-pituitary-gland
- https://www.healthline.com/human-body-maps/pituitary-gland
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cushing-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20351310
- https://www.yourhormones.info/endocrine-conditions/adult-onset-growth-hormone-deficiency/
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes-insipidus/symptoms-causes/syc-20351269
- https://www.hormone.org/diseases-and-conditions/hypopituitarism
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK278940/
