Overview of the Pituitary Gland

ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone): Controls your adrenal gland Overview of the Adrenal Glands Glands make and release hormones. Hormones are chemicals that stimulate other cells or tissues into action. Because hormones are in your blood, they travel throughout your body. They can affect... read more hormones, which affect heart rate, blood pressure, and the balance of salt and water in your body

Growth hormone: Controls how fast and big your body grows

Thyroid-stimulating hormone: Controls your thyroid gland Overview of the Thyroid Gland Your thyroid is a gland below the Adam’s apple in the front of your neck. Glands make and release hormones. Hormones stimulate other cells or tissues into action. The thyroid makes thyroid hormones... read more hormones, which control how fast your body's chemical functions work (metabolic rate)

Luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone: Control your sex hormones testosterone and estrogen, which affect fertility

Prolactin: Controls the production of breast milk

Not make enough hormones

Make too many hormones

Increased growth (acromegaly and gigantism Gigantism and Acromegaly Gigantism and acromegaly are patterns of abnormal growth caused by having too much growth hormone. In children, too much growth hormone causes gigantism, meaning being gigantic or a giant. In... read more )

Decreased growth (short stature Growth Hormone Deficiency in Children Growth hormone deficiency is a condition caused by the pituitary gland not making enough growth hormone. This can cause poor overall growth and short stature. Short stature is a height that's... read more )

Unexpected breast milk production (galactorrhea Galactorrhea Galactorrhea is when your breasts make milk when you aren’t breastfeeding a baby. Both men and women can get galactorrhea. Galactorrhea is usually caused by a tumor in your pituitary gland Some... read more )

Excessive thirst and urination, which can dehydrate you (central diabetes insipidus Central Diabetes Insipidus Central diabetes insipidus is not having enough of a hormone called vasopressin. Hormones are chemicals that stimulate other cells or tissues into action. Vasopressin is a hormone that signals... read more )

Excessive weakness and tiredness (hypothyroidism Hypothyroidism Your thyroid is a gland below the Adam’s apple in your neck. Your thyroid releases thyroid hormones. The hormones control how fast your body’s chemical functions work (metabolic rate). Almost... read more )

Erectile dysfunction Erectile Dysfunction (ED) Erectile dysfunction (ED) is when a man often has problems getting or keeping an erection (getting hard). Your penis may not get erect at all or only once in a while. Or you may get erections... read more

Menstrual problems Menstrual Disorders and Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding

A pituitary gland tumor Enlargement of the Pituitary Gland The pituitary gland is a pea-sized bit of tissue at the bottom of your brain. Glands are organs that make and release hormones into your blood. Hormones are chemicals that stimulate other cells... read more

A head injury

An autoimmune disease Autoimmune Diseases The immune system is your body's defense system. It helps protect you from illness and infection. The immune system usually attacks invading bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells. With an autoimmune... read more or other disease

Radiation therapy Radiation Therapy for Cancer Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that uses beams of radiation to destroy cancer cells and shrink cancer tumors. Doctors use radiation to treat many types of cancer, including head, neck... read more to your head

CT scan Computed Tomography A CT scan uses a large machine shaped like a large donut to take x-rays from many angles. A computer then takes the x-rays and creates many detailed pictures of the inside of your body. Each... read more (computed tomography) or MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) MRI is a test that uses a machine with a powerful magnet to make pictures of the inside of your body. A computer records changes in the magnetic field around your body. The computer then uses... read more (magnetic resonance imaging) of the brain to see if your pituitary gland has grown or shrunk

Blood tests measuring hormone levels from the hypothalamus, pituitary, and other glands

Medicine to counteract the effect of too many hormones

Surgery to remove a tumor

Hormone therapy to replace hormones your body doesn't make enough of