Panhypopituitarism Symptoms & Diagnosis

Symptoms

Symptoms arise from:

Insufficient levels of gonadotropins
- In premenopausal women causes: missing menstrual cycles, infertility , osteoporosis , vaginal dryness, as well as loss or reduction in female characteristics
- In men causes: impotence , reduced size of testes, decreased production of sperm, infertility , breast enlargement, reduced muscle mass, and loss or reduction in male characteristics (eg, beard growth)
Insufficient levels of growth hormone
- In children causes: stunted growth or dwarfism
- In adults causes: weakness, obesity , reduced cardiac output, low blood sugar levels, and reduced exercise tolerance
Insufficient levels of thyroid-stimulating hormones
- Leads to underactive thyroid , which causes confusion, hair loss, weakness, slow heart rate, muscle stiffness, intolerance to cold, constipation , weight gain, and dry skin
Insufficient corticotrophic levels
- Leads to underactive adrenal gland: causes low blood pressure, low blood sugar , fatigue, weight loss, vomiting, and low stress tolerance
Excessive prolactin levels
- Causes women to have missed periods, infertility, and milk secretion
- Men causes: reduced facial and body hair and small testes

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done.

Tests may include the following:

MRI scan —a test that uses magnetic waves to make pictures of structures inside the body
Blood tests—to measure hormone levels
Stimulation tests—to test the reserve of the endocrine glands, especially the pituitary gland
Semen analysis—in males suspected of infertility