What is hormone deficiency?

Hormone deficiency is a decrease in pituitary function. This referred to as hypopituitarism or panhypopituitarism.

Hypopituitarism When one or several hormones are not adequate.

Panhypopituitarism When all hormones are absent.

What causes hormone deficiencies?

1. A pituitary tumor (called an adenoma) Surgery in the region of the pituitary,
2. Damage of the pituitary by trauma such as road accidents
3. Radio therapy to the pituitary gland itself or part of the brain close to the pituitary gland eventually damages normal pituitary tissue
4. Damage to the pituitary gland by the blocked blood supply, bleeding, significant pressure from the surrounding, inflammation or infiltrations
5. Auto immune attack on the pituitary gland
6. Damage of the pituitary by the infection, e.g meningitis, encephalitis, tuberculosis
7. Isolated deficiency of one of the hormone since birth

What are general symptoms of hormone deficiencies?

• Low cortisol level can cause weight loss, nausea, diarrhea, low blood pressure, dizziness, and fatigue.
• Low growth hormone can cause failure of growth, fatigue, low libido, weight gain, mental confusion, and muscle weakness.
• Low sex hormone level can cause impotence, irregular or absent menstrual periods. lethargy and hot flashes
• Low thyroid hormone will cause dry skin, fatigue, weight gain.
• Lack of ADH causes severe thirst and frequent urination.