The anxiety and fear that come with pregnancy are often overlooked. Expectant parents struggle with thoughts about the future, problems in the present and nostalgia for the gone past. Along with these tensions, some additional medical complications add to the facade. One such concern is the Sheehan syndrome. Sheehan syndrome, rare as it is, is a life-threatening disease arising from damage to the pituitary gland, usually due to severe blood loss during labor. This damage can then affect the secretion of several hormones negatively, impacting metabolic, growth, and reproductive processes. Dealing with this in its early stages is essential.
Additionally, once you’ve secured your and your baby’s health during childbirth, it is important to take protective steps for the future as well. To reduce anxiety about your future, you can opt for LifeCell’s stem cell banking. It is a procedure for preservation of essential stem cells present in the umbilical cord that can potentially safeguard your child’s future health from the impact of 90+ medical conditions. While tackling threats like Sheehan Syndrome, make sure you take the right steps towards a healthy and safe future.
What is Sheehan Syndrome?
Sheehan syndrome is a rare condition that is caused due to significant blood loss during childbirth. The excessive bleeding decreases the amount of oxygen available to the pituitary gland to function properly. This causes some tissues in the pituitary gland to die.
Due to pregnancy, the pituitary gland naturally increases in size and requires more blood supply. During this, if a woman goes through excessive bleeding, the reduced blood flow can cause oxygen deprivation, causing parts of the gland to die (pituitary infarction)
Since the anterior pituitary is responsible for the production of important hormones like prolactin, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), its damage leads to hormonal deficiencies. This can affect lactation, menstrual cycles, metabolism, and the body’s ability to handle stress.
Sheehan syndrome is not always diagnosed instantly after childbirth. In some cases, it is detected months after childbirth as its symptoms do not appear immediately. Sheehan syndrome can cause some serious complications, including extreme fatigue, low blood pressure, and adrenal crisis.
What Are The Symptoms Of Sheehan Syndrome?
Some symptoms of Sheehan syndrome can be experienced immediately. In other cases, symptoms may appear gradually over several months or even several years.
These symptoms may include:
- Having problems breastfeeding or your milk never “coming in” after your baby is born.
- Irregular periods or disturbance in menstrual cycle
- Painful sexual intercourse due to thinning vaginal walls or vaginal dryness
- Reduction in breast size and loss of pubic and armpit hair
- Low energy levels, experiencing fatigue and low concentration spans
- Reduction in sex drive
- Low blood pressure
- Dry skin
There is also a possibility that you do not notice symptoms until you go through a stressful experience — such as a surgery or an injury. In this case, the symptoms start because your body is unable to respond to the stressor because of lack of enough stress hormone. This is called an adrenal crisis. Immediate medical attention should be provided in such cases.
What Are The Risk Factors For Sheehan Syndrome?
Sheehan syndrome is only caused after a person experiences excessive loss of blood and a steep drop in blood pressure during childbirth. The various factors that increase the risk of severe bleeding during childbirth (and Sheehan syndrome) include:
- Having twins, triplets, or more babies
- Giving birth to a big baby.
- Early separation of the placenta from the uterus.
- High blood pressure during pregnancy.
- Needing help during delivery (such as forceps or vacuum).
How To Manage & Treat Sheehan Syndrome
The main treatment for Sheehan syndrome is taking the hormones your body is no longer able to produce. Most of these hormone replacements need to be taken for life.
Here’s what your doctor may prescribe:
- Glucocorticoids (like prednisone or hydrocortisone) to replace adrenal hormones that help your body manage stress.
- Thyroid Hormone (e.g., levothyroxine): Once cortisol is replaced, thyroid hormone is given to treat low thyroid levels.
- Estrogen and progesterone (or just estrogen if you’ve had a hysterectomy) to regulate menstrual cycles. These can usually be stopped at menopause.
- Fertility Treatment: Women who want to get pregnant can be referred to fertility specialists for treatment to help with ovulation and pregnancy.
- Growth hormone to maintain strong bones, improve muscle-to-fat ratio, and help with cholesterol levels.
An endocrinologist (a hormone specialist) will manage your treatment. You’ll need regular blood tests to check your hormone levels and adjust medications if needed.
Conclusion:
Sheehan Syndrome is a rare condition that occurs due to damage to the pituitary gland, often as a result of severe blood loss during childbirth. This condition can lead to a range of hormonal imbalances and symptoms that affect a woman’s health. While it is uncommon, Sheehan Syndrome requires careful management and treatment to ensure proper hormonal function and overall well-being.