Symptoms & Diagnosis
Symptoms of Pituitary Conditions
Pituitary conditions can cause a wide range of symptoms, depending on which hormones are affected and the specific condition involved. Not everyone will experience the same symptoms, and individuals may have only some of the symptoms associated with their particular diagnosis.
If you are experiencing persistent or unexplained symptoms, it is important to speak with your GP or healthcare professional. While many of the symptoms listed below can be associated with pituitary conditions, they may also occur in other medical conditions and do not necessarily indicate a pituitary disorder.
When discussing your health with your doctor, it is helpful to mention all symptoms you are experiencing, even if they seem unrelated. Providing a complete picture can assist healthcare professionals in reaching an accurate diagnosis and ensuring appropriate treatment.
Common Symptoms of Pituitary Conditions
- Changes in vision or visual disturbances
- Unexplained weight gain or weight loss
- Reduced libido (sex drive)
- Dizziness or nausea
- Pale complexion
- Muscle weakness or muscle wasting
- Coarsening of facial features
- Enlargement of the hands and feet
- Excessive sweating
- Oily skin
- Rounded or "moon-shaped" face, often with facial redness
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Fatigue and low energy levels
- Menstrual irregularities
- Fertility problems
- Mood changes, anxiety or depression
- Intolerance to cold or heat
Condition-Specific Symptoms
Each pituitary condition has its own unique pattern of symptoms. You can learn more about the symptoms associated with specific conditions by visiting the relevant condition pages on our website.
After Diagnosis
Receiving a diagnosis of a pituitary condition can raise many questions. Understanding the symptoms that may occur as part of your condition can help you recognise changes in your health and discuss them with your healthcare team.
Trusted Information and Support
At Pituitary Ireland, we are committed to helping patients and families access reliable, medically verified information. We can signpost you to trusted resources from recognised pituitary and endocrine Organisations, helping you better understand your condition and the support available to you.
Advice on getting a pituitary diagnosis
As pituitary conditions are considered rare, your GP may not have come across another person living with a pituitary condition. They may investigate more common conditions first before considering the pituitary Gland. The suggestions given below could be helpful for you when approaching your GP.
You may have had unexplained symptoms for some time, we recommend When you are looking for a pituitary diagnosis, write down a list of your symptoms as they present, and dates if possible that they began.
Your GP will probably be the first point of contact to begin investigating and may perform some tests to begin with. in some cases your optician, or other clinician may have been consulted and then referred to your GP for investigation.
Before visiting your GP
- Make a list of any medicines you take including alternative therapies and vitamins.
- List any family illnesses or conditions e.g. heart disease, diabetes mellitus.
- Your GP will preform Blood tests and may refer you to a specialist upon reviewing the results of your tests
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Post Diagnosis
If your GP suspects a pituitary problem, they should refer you to an endocrinologist for further investigations, An endocrinologist is a consultant who specialises in hormones. It is very important and we strongly recommend that you be referred to an endocrinologist who specialises in pituitary conditions.
At your first appointment with an endocrinologist, it is usual for the following things to happen,
A full medical history will be taken, general health questions e.g. list your symptoms, how they felt, and your family history of general health.
Blood tests are taken to test relevant hormone levels (this is quick and quite painless). The results usually take 2-3 weeks, a copy of these will be given to your GP.
The endocrinologist may want you to have a scan of the pituitary gland using an MRI scanner – the waiting list can be more than several weeks/months in some hospitals. An MRI offers a much clearer picture and involves being in a confined space.
You can take along your partner, relative or friend with you to this, (and any future) appointments. It is also a good idea to take notes of symptoms you wish to discuss in case you forget during the consultation.
Please note: Almost all pituitary tumours are benign – they are non cancerous, however, many still require treatment. Optimal Treatment options will be discussed by your specialist medical Team, and presented to you at follow up appointment.