The Pituitary Function Profile checks the hormones your pituitary gland produces or controls, covering thyroid, reproductive and growth-related signals alongside cortisol. It suits people with symptoms such as unexplained fatigue, irregular periods, changes in libido, or a doctor investigating possible pituitary or hormonal imbalance. The profile costs £265.00 plus a £50 blood-draw fee, with results in 1 day. Walk in or book online at 117a Harley Street, seven days a week.
A doctor may request this profile for someone with persistent fatigue, unexplained weight change, irregular or absent periods, reduced libido or fertility concerns, where a pituitary or related hormonal cause is being considered.
It is also used to investigate symptoms such as unexpected milk production, headaches with visual changes, or unusual patterns of growth, which can sometimes relate to the pituitary gland.
Some people request it to monitor a known pituitary condition or as part of a broader hormonal work-up alongside other tests their doctor has recommended.
This sample should be taken to a schedule your doctor advises, since several of these hormones, particularly cortisol, vary through the day. Most people do not need to fast, but timing can matter, so follow your doctor's instructions on when to have the blood drawn.
A result outside the expected range for any one of these hormones can point towards the pituitary itself, the gland it is signalling to, such as the thyroid or adrenal glands, or a temporary factor such as stress or medication, so no single figure gives a complete answer.
Because these hormones interact with each other and vary with the time of day, a doctor needs to interpret the whole pattern alongside your symptoms rather than any one result on its own.
If any part of this profile falls outside the laboratory's reference range, book a doctor's appointment to discuss what it means and whether further tests or imaging would help build a clearer picture.
If you would like a doctor to request the right tests for your symptoms or talk the report through, book a private GP consultation at Medical Express Clinic.
Written by Mr Stephen Lingam. Reviewed by Dr Mohammad Bakhtiar.
It measures TSH, FSH, LH, prolactin, IGF-1 and cortisol, hormones that the pituitary gland produces or controls, giving a broad view of pituitary and related hormonal function.
Fasting is not usually required, but the timing of the blood draw can matter for hormones like cortisol, so follow any specific instructions from your doctor.
Results are typically available within 1 day of your blood being taken at 117a Harley Street.
No, this blood profile cannot diagnose a pituitary tumour on its own. Unusual results would prompt a doctor to consider further tests, which may include imaging.