ON THIS PAGE: You will find out more about body changes and other things that can signal a problem that may need medical care. Use the menu to see other pages. People with a pituitary gland tumor may experience the following symptoms or signs. A symptom is something that only the person experiencing it can identify and describe, such as fatigue, nausea, or pain. A sign is something that other people can identify and measure, such
as a fever, rash, or an elevated pulse. Together, signs and symptoms can help describe a medical problem. Sometimes, people with a pituitary gland tumor do not have any of the signs and symptoms described below. Or, the cause of a symptom may be a different medical condition that is not a pituitary gland tumor. Headaches Vision problems Unexplained tiredness Mood changes Irritability Unexplained changes in menstrual cycles Erectile dysfunction, which is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection and is caused by hormone changes Infertility, which is the inability to have children Unexpected breast growth or production of breast milk Cushing’s syndrome, a combination of weight gain, high blood pressure, diabetes, and easy bruising that is caused by overproduction of the hormone ACTH (see below) Acromegaly, the enlargement of the arms or legs and thickening of the skull and jaw caused by too much growth hormone A pituitary tumor causes symptoms in 3 different ways, which are discussed below. By producing too much of 1 or more hormones:
By pressing on the pituitary gland, causing it to make too little of 1 or more hormones.
By pressing on the optic nerves or, less commonly, the nerves controlling eye movements, and causing either loss of part or all of a person’s sight, or double vision. If you are concerned about any changes you experience, please talk with your doctor. Your doctor will ask how long and how often you have been experiencing the symptom(s), in addition to other questions. This is to help figure out the cause of the problem, called a diagnosis. If a pituitary gland tumor is diagnosed, relieving symptoms remains an important part of care and treatment. This may also be called palliative care or supportive care. It is often started soon after diagnosis and continued throughout treatment. Be sure to talk with your health care team about the symptoms you experience, including any new symptoms or a change in symptoms. The next section in this guide is Diagnosis. It explains what tests may be needed to learn more about the cause of the symptoms. Use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide. What are the symptoms of a malfunctioning pituitary gland?Common symptoms include:. Anxiety or depression.. Diabetes.. Hair loss.. High blood pressure.. Irregular menstrual periods.. Unexpected breast milk production.. Low energy or low sex drive.. Stunted growth or unusual growth spurts.. How do you know if you have a low functioning pituitary gland?Hypopituitarism is an underactive pituitary gland that results in deficiency of one or more pituitary hormones. Symptoms of hypopituitarism depend on what hormone is deficient and may include short height, infertility, intolerance to cold, fatigue, and an inability to produce breast milk.
How do you test for pituitary gland problems?Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or high-resolution computerized tomography (CT) of your brain can detect a pituitary tumor or other pituitary gland problems.
How do you fix pituitary problems?Common treatment options for hypopituitarism include:. Hormone replacement therapy: Hormone replacement therapy aims to restore the deficient pituitary hormone(s) to normal levels.. Surgery: Pituitary adenomas can cause hypopituitarism. ... . Radiation therapy: Some pituitary adenomas can be treated using radiation therapy.. |