Diagnosis

Diagnosing Sheehan's syndrome can be difficult. Many symptoms overlap with those of other conditions. To diagnose Sheehan's, your doctor likely will:

• Collect a thorough medical history. It's important to mention any childbirth complications you've had, no matter how long ago you gave birth. Also, be sure to tell your doctor if you didn't produce breast milk or you failed to start menstruating after delivery — two key signs of Sheehan's syndrome.
• Run blood tests. Blood tests will check your pituitary hormone levels.
• Request a pituitary hormone stimulation test. You might need stimulation testing of the pituitary hormones, which involves injecting hormones and running repeated blood tests to see how your pituitary responds. This test is typically done after consulting a doctor who specializes in hormonal disorders (endocrinologist).
• Request imaging tests. You might also need imaging tests, such as an MRI scan or CT scan, to check the size of your pituitary gland and to look for other possible reasons for your symptoms, such as a pituitary tumor.