The symptoms of pituitary insufficiency can depend on which specific hormone levels are low, the cause, your age, and your sex assigned at birth. Fatigue is one general symptom of this condition.
Pituitary insufficiency, or hypopituitarism, occurs when you do not have enough of one or more of the hormones made by your pituitary gland. These hormones typically support your reproductive system, sexual function, and growth and development.
These hormones include:
- growth hormone
- thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
- follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and/or luteinizing hormone (LH)
- adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), also known as corticotropin
- prolactin
- oxytocin
- antidiuretic hormone (ADH), also called vasopressin or arginine vasopressin
Symptoms may vary depending on which or how many of these hormones are low, as well as your age and your sex assigned at birth.
Keep reading to learn the symptoms of different types of pituitary insufficiency.
GHD is a common condition in children in which the pituitary gland does not produce enough growth hormone.
This can cause symptoms such as:
- short height
- round face
- excess “baby fat” in the abdomen
- slowed or delayed growth and development
- delayed sexual development
GHD can also occur in adults, though it is less common and may indicate a pituitary gland tumor. Symptoms in adults can include:
- fatigue
- weakness
- reduced capacity for exercise and physical activity
- reduced muscle strength
- decreased memory and concentration
- sleep disorders
Read about treatment for GHD.
Your pituitary gland is responsible for producing hormones that stimulate your thyroid to produce TSH. If your pituitary gland does not make enough of these hormones, your thyroid will not produce enough TSH. This condition is called pituitary hypothyroidism or secondary hypothyroidism.
This condition typically causes symptoms of hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), which may include:
- fatigue
- weight gain
- cold sensitivity
- joint and muscle pain
- dry skin
- dry and thinning hair
- slowed heart rate
- depression
- heavy or irregular menstrual periods in people assigned female at birth
- issues with fertility
Though hypothyroidism tends to develop slowly and commonly affects adults, children can also develop it.
In the female reproductive system, FSH is responsible for stimulating the production of estrogen and progesterone in the ovaries, and both FSH and LH help support the menstrual cycle. In the male reproductive system, FSH supports the development of the gonads, and both FSH and LH support sperm production.
Symptoms of FSH and LH deficiency can depend on age. In children, FSH and LH deficiency can cause:
- lack of penis growth (micropenis) or undescended testes in newborns assigned male at birth
- lack of testicle growth in children assigned male at birth
- lack of breast development in children assigned female at birth
- decreased growth during puberty
In adults, FSH and LH deficiency can cause symptoms such as:
- fatigue
- low libido
- fertility issues
- erectile dysfunction and reduced facial or body hair in people assigned male at birth
- hot flashes, decreased public hair, irregular or absent menstrual periods, and lack of milk production after childbirth in people assigned female at birth
ACTH, or cosyntropin, is a hormone that is produced in your pituitary gland and stimulates the production of cortisol in your adrenal gland. An ACTH deficiency can lead to low cortisol levels. This is referred to as secondary adrenal insufficiency and can cause symptoms such as:
- hypotension (low blood pressure)
- loss of appetite
- vomiting
- unintentional weight loss
- fatigue
- abdominal pain
- reduced skin elasticity
- hyperpigmentation
- shock
People assigned female at birth may also experience:
- absence of menstrual period
- loss of libido
- reduced armpit and pubic hair
Learn about the test used to diagnose ACTH insufficiency.
Prolactin is a hormone that’s responsible for milk production, breast development, and other bodily functions in those assigned female at birth. Insufficient prolactin production can cause symptoms such as an inability to produce milk after childbirth and reduced sexual inhibition.
Learn how a doctor can check your levels of prolactin with a prolactin level test.
Oxytocin is known as the love hormone. In people assigned female at birth, it stimulates the uterine contractions that support childbirth and helps induce lactation after birth while promoting the bond between a birthing parent and a baby. In people of all sexes, it also contributes to other bodily functions that support the cardiovascular system.
Oxytocin deficiency can cause symptoms such as:
- mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression
- reduced emotional functioning
- decreased bone mineral density
- increased calorie intake and unintentional weight gain
- reduced impulse control
ADH, or vasopressin, helps manage many bodily functions, including:
- salt and water balance
- blood pressure regulation
- kidney function
A decreased release of this hormone is called arginine vasopressin disorder (previously known as diabetes insipidus). Symptoms of this disorder can include:
- persistent thirst
- increased urination
- cravings for cold water
- dehydration
- electrolyte imbalance
In children and newborns, this can look like:
- excessive crying
- constipation
- very wet diapers
- difficulty with potty training
- frequent bedwetting
Hypopituitarism (pituitary insufficiency) can affect various functions in your body, including:
- growth and development
- puberty
- sexual and reproductive function
- skin pigmentation
- lactation
The exact symptoms can vary depending on the cause, the age at which the deficiency occurs, and which hormone levels are deficient.
Learn more about pituitary insufficiency, including how doctors treat it.