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Supporting everyone in the pituitary community, every step of the way.

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Pituitary Conditions
Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment
Living with a Pituitary Condition
Healthcare Professionals
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What are you looking for?
  • Pituitary Conditions
  • Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment
  • Living with a Pituitary Condition
  • Healthcare Professionals

The Basics

New to pituitary or not sure where to start? We'll explain what the pituitary gland is and take you through the first things you need to know.

What is the Pituitary Gland?
The pituitary gland secretes hormones which carry messages around the body via the bloodstream. It controls several hormone glands in the body, including the thyroid, adrenal glands, ovaries and testes, so is often described as the master gland.
Emergency Info for AI and AVP-D (DI)
In case of emergency you should call 999. This page outlines the sick day rules and other emergency information for both adrenal insufficiency and AVP deficiency (previously diabetes insipidus).
Causes of Pituitary Conditions
There are a range of causes for pituitary conditions, the most common being a non-cancerous tumour. Other causes include traumatic brain injury.
What are Hormones?
Hormones are chemicals which circulate in the blood stream and spread around the body to carry messages or signals to different parts of the body.
Major Endocrine Glands and Other Organs
There are a number of endocrine glands across the body which work together to secrete hormones. There are also several organs that contain endocrine tissue.
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Our Impact

Our vision is that all people with pituitary conditions live well, now and in the future. We work with everyone with a pituitary condition, their support networks and healthcare professionals to raise pituitary awareness and reduce time to diagnosis.

2500+

support enquiries answered

2300

members in our network

92%

of attendees rated our events good or excellent

Our Story Become a Member

Your Stories

Nadine’s story: Living with a physical disability and Cushing’s disease

Steven’ story: A Cushing’s diagnosis after unexplained weight gain

Serena’s story: Surgery for prolactinoma

Living With a Pituitary Condition Tell your story

Join an event

Pituitary Surgery online event with Eleni Maratos

08/07/2025

Join us for an online event on pituitary surgery.

Man standing in front of a powerpoint presentation

Welcome Event July

09/07/2025

Join our quarterly zoom session where we will welcome you to The Pituitary Foundation. They’ll be an opportunity to learn more about the charity and the services that we can offer you, as well as a chance to say hi to the staff who work behind the scenes. We’ll also be talking about our upcoming and ongoing projects, telling you how to get involved and what it means to be an active member of the pituitary community.

Leicester July Support Group Meeting

12/07/2025

Join us for the Leicester support group meeting.

Ride Reigate 50K

13/07/2025

Sign up to this magnificent 50K cycle ride!

Ride Reigate 25K

13/07/2025

A cycle sportive event where you can ride 25k through a scenic route!

Ride Reigate 100K

13/07/2025

Get ready to cycle 100K to fundraise for the Pituitary Foundation!

More events

News and updates

A logo for the Edinburgh Support Group

We're launching a support group in Edinburgh!

26th June 2025
Someone is placing medication into a pill tray

Desmopressin shortage survey

23rd June 2025
A smiling woman is stood in front of a finish line for a race. She is wearing a bright orange Pituitary Foundation top and is holding her thumbs up

'Alone we are rare; together we are strong' - Why Sara is setting up a new support group

16th June 2025
More news and updates
A person wearing a lab coat and blue latex gloves is holding a set of test tubes
We’re pushing for action on the desmopressin nasal spray shortage.

In response to wide-spread concern from our community about the effects of the desmopressin nasal spray shortage, we reached out to the Secretary of State for Health and Care, Wes Streeting, to push for action on this issue.

Find out more