Complications

Because pituitary hormones control many aspects of your metabolism, Sheehan's syndrome can cause many problems, including:

• Adrenal crisis, a serious condition in which your adrenal glands produce too little of the hormone cortisol
• Low blood pressure
• Unintended weight loss
• Menstrual irregularities

Adrenal crisis: Life-threatening situation

The most serious complication is adrenal crisis, a sudden, life-threatening state that can lead to extremely low blood pressure, shock, coma and death.

Adrenal crisis usually occurs when your body is under marked stress — such as during surgery or a serious illness — and your adrenal glands produce too little of a powerful stress hormone (cortisol).

Because of the potentially serious consequences of adrenal insufficiency, your doctor is likely to recommend that you wear a medical alert bracelet.