Sheehan's syndrome

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Symptoms

By Mayo Clinic staff

In most cases, the signs and symptoms of Sheehan's syndrome appear slowly, after a period of months or even years. But sometimes — such as in a breast-feeding mother — problems may appear right away.

Signs and symptoms of Sheehan's syndrome are those of deficiencies of the various hormones the pituitary gland controls: thyroid, adrenal, breast milk production and menstrual function. Signs and symptoms include:

  • Slowed mental function, weight gain and difficulty staying warm, as a result of an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
  • Difficulty breast-feeding or an inability to breast-feed
  • No menstrual periods (amenorrhea) or infrequent menstruation (oligomenorrhea)
  • Loss of pubic or underarm hair
  • Low blood pressure
  • Fatigue
  • Weight loss

For many women, the symptoms of Sheehan's syndrome are nonspecific and often attributed to other things. Fatigue, for instance, goes hand in hand with being a new mother. You might not realize that you have Sheehan's syndrome until you need treatment for thyroid or adrenal insufficiency.

It's also possible to remain relatively symptom-free with Sheehan's syndrome. Some women unknowingly live for years with pituitary insufficiency, then go into adrenal crisis triggered by extreme physical stressors, such as severe infection or surgery.

References
  1. Snyder PJ. Causes of hypopituitarism. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 15, 2010.
  2. Nieman LK. Clinical manifestations of adrenal insufficiency in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 15, 2010.
  3. Montoro MN. Thyroid and other endocrine disorders during pregnancy. In: DeCherney AH, et al. Current Diagnosis & Treatment Obstetrics & Gynecology. 10th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2007. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2387051. Accessed Nov. 13, 2010.
  4. Generalized hypopituitarism. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec12/ch151/ch151c.html. Accessed Nov. 16, 2010.
  5. Pituitary disorders overview. The Hormone Foundation. http://www.hormone.org/Pituitary/overview.cfm. Accessed Nov. 16, 2010.
  6. Snyder PJ. Treatment of hypopituitarism. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 16, 2010.
DS00889 Feb. 1, 2011

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