The pituitary gland stimulates all the other endocrine glands to produce their own hormones. It produces a number of hormones including Human Growth Hormone (hGH) responsible for bone and muscle growth and Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) which stimulates the production of the female egg or male sperm. It is found at the base of the brain.
What can happen when it goes wrong?
When the pituitary gland doesn’t produce enough ‘trigger’ hormones, hypopituitarism occurs. Most often, it is caused by a benign tumor of the pituitary gland although it can also be caused by infections, head injury or even stroke.
Symptoms?
Excessive tiredness, reduced fertility, irregular periods, weight gain, poor libido, dry skin and headaches.
Treatment?
If caused by a tumor, surgery will be required to remove it. Regardless of whether this is successful, daily hormones will then be required to replace those no longer produced.
Adapted from http://www.hippocraticpost.com/palliative/whole-story-hormones/
Filed under: pituitary | Tagged: Benign tumor, dry skin, endocrine glands, fatigue, Follicle Stimulating Hormone, FSH, headache, hGH, hormones, Human Growth Hormone, hypopituitarism, infertility, irregular periods, libido, Pituitary gland, tiredness, Weight gain |
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