Cholecystokinin
/hormones/cholecystokinin/
Cholecystokinin is a gut hormone released after a meal, which helps digestion and reduces appetite.

Mass Spectrometry Core Manager
/students/careers/mass-spectrometry-core-manager/
Natalie Homer, Mass Spectrometry Core Manager: The mass spectrometry core facility I manage has six instruments and a team of four technical specialists.

Calcitonin
/hormones/calcitonin/
Calcitonin is a hormone that is produced and released by the C-cells of the thyroid gland. Its biological function in humans is to have a relatively minor role in calcium balance.

Non-functioning pituitary tumours
/endocrine-conditions/non-functioning-pituitary-tumours/
Non-functioning pituitary tumours are the most common benign growths in the pituitary gland. These tumours are usually identified because of impaired vision or hormone deficiencies.

Addison's disease
/endocrine-conditions/addisons-disease/
Addison’s disease is an endocrine condition where the adrenal glands stop functioning, so that the body no longer produce enough steroid hormones. Treatment is with hormone replacement therapy and some lifestyle adaptations to ensure patients remain well.

Turner syndrome
/endocrine-conditions/turner-syndrome/
Turner syndrome is a chromosomal disorder affecting the equivalent of one in 2,500 girls, which may lead to a number of features including short stature, failure to enter puberty and infertility.

Should we have the steroid Olympics?
/explore/resources/podcasts/season-one/should-we-have-the-steroid-olympics/
Doping scandals are a regular feature in sporting events, but how do the hormones involved boost performance and why are they banned? Plus, a short history of doping.

Hormones and eating
/explore/discover/hormones-and-eating/
Hormones work to ensure that we consume the right amount of food we need to fuel our bodies each day. They are responsible for signalling to the brain when it’s time to start eating and also when to stop eating. When these signals don’t function properly, this can promote obesity.

Menopause
/endocrine-conditions/menopause/
The menopause is the time when menstruation stops because the ovaries stop producing hormones and releasing eggs each month. This usually marks the end of a woman's reproductive years.

Obesity: KS4 article
/explore/discover/obesity-ks4-article/
Obesity is a condition where so much fat is stored that it is a risk to health.

Podcasts
/explore/resources/podcasts/
The Society for Endocrinology's award-winning podcast, Hormones: The Inside Story, reveals the truth about hormones and your health.

Is my diabetes my fault?
/explore/resources/podcasts/season-three/is-my-diabetes-my-fault/
Is type 2 diabetes really a “lifestyle disease”? Why do some people develop diabetes even though they’re eating healthily while many obese people escape the disease? How can your environment shape your diabetes risk before you’re even born?

What is Cancer - KS4 article
/explore/discover/what-is-cancer-ks4-article/
Cancer is a condition where some of a person’s own cells start to grow and divide in an uncontrolled way. These cancer cells behave differently from the original cells and can gain new abilities normally found in other cell types.

Obesity
/endocrine-conditions/obesity/
Obesity is when the body stores more calories as fat than it needs. It is becoming a growing public health and medical problem, linked to a lower quality and a shorter length of life.

Pineal gland
/glands/pineal-gland/
The pineal gland is situated in the middle of the human brain and is the major site of the body's melatonin production.

Will taking hormones make me taller?
/explore/resources/podcasts/season-two/will-taking-hormones-make-me-taller/
Ever wished that you could change your height? We investigate how hormones affect our height destinies, and what they have to do with the legend of the Irish giants.

Hormones in pregnancy and labour
/explore/discover/hormones-in-pregnancy-and-labour/
Hormones play an important role in pregnancy and labour. They help make sure everything happens at the right time and in the right order.

Growth and height
/explore/discover/growth-and-height/
Ever wondered why some people are very tall and others are shorter? Or why some people grow fast and others much slower? Behind everyone’s height is a mix of genetics, hormones, nutrition, the environment and sometimes, medical conditions.

Can I hack my hormones to beat ageing?
/explore/resources/podcasts/season-two/can-i-hack-my-hormones-to-beat-ageing/
Are there really chemicals inside us that could lead to some age-defying interventions in the future? Could our hormones hold the map to the fountain of youth?

Diabetes mellitus
/endocrine-conditions/diabetes-mellitus/
Diabetes mellitus is a very common disorder caused by high levels of sugar in the bloodstream. It affects a large number of people, with many more people remaining undiagnosed.

Is modern life overloading our stress levels?
/explore/resources/podcasts/season-one/is-modern-life-overloading-our-stress-levels/
We all know what it's like to feel stressed, perhaps this year more than most, but what are our stress hormones really doing to our minds and bodies?

Thyroid eye disease
/endocrine-conditions/thyroid-eye-disease/
Thyroid eye disease is an autoimmune condition that affects the eyes causing swelling, inflammation and sometimes visual problems.

Pancreas
/glands/pancreas/
The pancreas is an organ that serves two vital purposes: to aid food digestion and to produce hormones that mainly serve to control levels of energy in the blood.

oral contraceptive pill
/glossary/glossary/oral-contraceptive-pill/
A hormone drug taken by women to prevent ovulation and therefore to stop a pregnancy occurring (contraception). 

Consultant in Diabetes and Endocrinology and General Internal Medicine
/students/careers/consultant-in-diabetes-and-endocrinology-and-general-internal-medicine/
Dr Ashutosh Kapoor, Consultant in Diabetes and Endocrinology and General Internal Medicine: From the final year of medical university, I could not dream of any other specialty other than Diabetes and Endocrinology.

Prostaglandins
/hormones/prostaglandins/
The prostaglandins are a group of lipids (fats) made at sites of tissue damage or infection that have actions similar to hormones and are involved in dealing with injury and illness. They control processes such as inflammation, blood flow, the formation of blood clots and the induction of labour.

Ovaries
/glands/ovaries/
The ovaries produce and release eggs (oocytes) into the female reproductive tract at the mid-point of each menstrual cycle. They also produce the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone and androgens.

Menstrual cycle: KS4 article
/explore/discover/menstrual-cycle-ks4-article/
The menstrual cycle is a repeated pattern of changes in the female body. Its purpose is to prepare the body for the possibility of pregnancy . The menstrual cycle takes about a month to complete and is driven by a variety of hormones. The hormones are used to signal when the different stages of the cycle should happen.

Are my hormones making me fat?
/explore/resources/podcasts/season-one/are-my-hormones-making-me-fat/
How do our hormones impact our eating habits and will scientists ever make a diet pill? Plus, the tale of the Labradors and the impossible sausage.

Insulin: KS4 article
/explore/discover/insulin-ks4-article/
Insulin is a type of hormone. Its job is to tell our cells when there’s a lot of sugar in our blood. This is important because cells need sugar for energy, and also because too much sugar in the blood can be dangerous. When cells don’t receive insulin’s message, it causes a disease called diabetes mellitus.

Vasopressin Related Polyuria
/endocrine-conditions/vasopressin-related-polyuria/
AVP-deficiency is a rare condition caused by a reduced or inability to produce vasopressin (AVP), whilst AVP-Resistance is the failure to respond to vasopressin. The umbrella term for both AVP-Deficiency and AVP-Resistance is Vasopressin Related Polyuria or AVP-related polyuria. The symptoms of both conditions is the passing of large amounts of dilute urine (more than 50ml/Kg in 24 hours) and increased thirst (called polydipsia). AVP-deficiency and AVP-Resistance used to be called Cranial and Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus, but neither condition is at all related to Diabetes Mellitus (’mellitus’ meaning ‘sweet’ and referring to high sugar levels that cause excess passing of urine). The name of these conditions therefore formally changed from Diabetes Inspidus in December 2024 to avoid confusion with the condition Diabetes Mellitus.

Non-functioning pancreatic NETs
/endocrine-conditions/non-functioning-pancreatic-nets/
Non-functioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) are tumours that originate in specialised cells of the pancreas.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1
/endocrine-conditions/multiple-endocrine-neoplasia-type-1/
Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 is a rare inherited disease, which can result in tumours in the pituitary and parathyroid glands, and pancreas.

Premature ovarian insufficiency
/endocrine-conditions/premature-ovarian-insufficiency/
Menopause usually happens in women over the age of 45 years, but if the ovaries stop working prematurely (i.e. before the age of 40 years), this is called ‘Premature Ovarian Insufficiency’ (POI).

Why do we need hormones?
/explore/discover/why-do-we-need-hormones/
Over 50 hormones have been identified in the human body, but there are likely more to be discovered.

Can I hack my hormones to beat jet lag?
/explore/resources/podcasts/season-one/can-i-hack-my-hormones-to-beat-jet-lag/
We explore the hormones behind our sleep-wake cycle, how they can get out of sync and why some athletes are totally immune to jet lag.

Klinefelter's syndrome
/endocrine-conditions/klinefelters-syndrome/
Klinefelter syndrome is a genetic condition that can only affect boys / men and occurs due to the presence of one (or more) extra X chromosomes. The condition is typically characterised by tall stature, reduced fertility and development of breast tissue (gynaecomastia), although in some men there may be no clinical features other than reduced or absent sperm count.

Veterinary Lecturer
/students/careers/veterinary-lecturer/
Rebecca Geddes, Lecturer in Small Animal Veterinary Internal Medicine: Anyone interested in becoming a veterinary surgeon should try and get some work experience organised to see if the realities of the job match your impression of it.

Make your own body clock
/explore/resources/activities/make-your-own-body-clock/
Pupils make their own ‘body clock medallion’ to take home. They will learn what hormones are involved in some key bodily functions in a 24-hour period. This activity is designed for students aged 8-12 and is a craft activity designed to stimulate discussion around hormonal control of everyday biological processes.

Hypercalcaemia
/endocrine-conditions/hypercalcaemia/
Hypercalcaemia is the presence of abnormally high calcium levels in the blood

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A
/endocrine-conditions/multiple-endocrine-neoplasia-type-2a/
Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN2A) is a rare inherited disease causing the development of tumours in the thyroid, adrenal and parathyroid glands.

Hypopituitarism
/endocrine-conditions/hypopituitarism/
Hypopituitarism is the failure of production of one or more hormones from the pituitary gland.

Gastrinoma
/endocrine-conditions/gastrinoma/
Gastrinomas are tumours which produce an excessive amount of the hormone called gastrin. These tumours originate from pancreas, stomach and the small intestine.

Pituitary apoplexy
/endocrine-conditions/pituitary-apoplexy/
Pituitary apoplexy is a medical emergency. It is caused by either a bleed into and/or death of an area of tissue in the pituitary gland. It is usually associated with the presence of a pituitary tumour.

Craniopharyngioma
/endocrine-conditions/craniopharyngioma/
Craniopharyngiomas are rare, slow-growing benign brain tumours which most commonly occur above the pituitary gland, but occasionally are found within the bony cup containing the pituitary gland.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B
/endocrine-conditions/multiple-endocrine-neoplasia-type-2b/
Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B (MEN2B) is a rare inherited disease causing the development of tumours in the thyroid, adrenal and parathyroid glands, and mucosal tumours.

Peptide YY
/hormones/peptide-yy/
Peptide YY is a hormone made in the small intestine. It helps to reduce appetite and limit food intake.

Clinical Scientist
/students/careers/clinical-scientist/
Amy Frank, Clinical Scientist: My job is very different day to day and includes a good mixture of laboratory and clinical tasks. Some days I will be in the laboratory, working on new methods or troubleshooting problems with current tests.

Chronic fatigue syndrome
/endocrine-conditions/chronic-fatigue-syndrome/
Chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex condition that causes long-term, fluctuating, and energy-draining fatigue, which does not improve with rest or sleep.

Diabetes mellitus: KS4 article
/explore/discover/diabetes-mellitus-ks4-article/
About one in every twenty people in the UK have diabetes mellitus, so it’s very likely that you know someone who is diabetic. The most common are Type 1 and Type 2.

Metabolic Syndrome
/endocrine-conditions/metabolic-syndrome/
The increase in prevalence of individuals who are obese or develop metabolic complications like cardiovascular disease, diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing. The development of these diseases is a result of a several of symptoms which are collectively known as metabolic syndrome.

Menopause vs. manopause – are they equivalent?
/explore/resources/podcasts/season-two/menopause-vs-manopause-are-they-equivalent/
The menopause marks one of the biggest natural shifts in hormones for women and can bring with it a number of unpleasant symptoms. But is there a testosterone-based equivalent in men?

TSH-secreting pituitary adenoma
/endocrine-conditions/tsh-secreting-pituitary-adenoma/
TSH-secreting pituitary adenomas are slow-growing benign pituitary tumours that produce thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and are a very rare cause of hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid).

Acromegaly
/endocrine-conditions/acromegaly/
Acromegaly is a hormonal disorder that develops from the overproduction of Growth Hormone (GH) in the body. It is usually caused by a benign (non-cancerous) tumour of the pituitary gland called an adenoma, which produces too much Growth Hormone (GH).

Precocious puberty
/endocrine-conditions/precocious-puberty/
Precocious puberty is the abnormally early start of puberty before nine years of age in a boy and eight years of age in a girl.

Eating disorders - KS4 article
/endocrine-conditions/eating-disorders-ks4-article/
Eating disorders refer to unhealthy eating habits, which cause psychological and physical damage but can be treated in many cases.

How can future technology help my hormones?
/explore/resources/podcasts/season-three/how-can-future-technology-help-my-hormones/
Could 3D printed pancreases be the cure for type 1 diabetes? Will AI take over in the IVF clinic? How and why have researchers created a remote controlled adrenal gland?

Insulinoma
/endocrine-conditions/insulinoma/
An insulinoma is a type of tumour that occurs in the pancreas. The tumour secretes too much insulin, which causes blood glucose (sugar) to drop to low levels.

Gigantism
/endocrine-conditions/gigantism/
Gigantism is a rare condition due to abnormal, accelerated growth caused by excessive amounts of growth hormone secretion during childhood or adolescence. It is almost always the result of a growth hormone-secreting pituitary tumour.

Prader-Willi syndrome
/endocrine-conditions/prader-willi-syndrome/
Prader-Willi syndrome is a genetic disorder leading to excess hunger and obesity, lack of some hormones, developmental delay, learning difficulties and behavioural problems.

Adrenaline: KS4 article
/explore/discover/adrenaline-ks4-article/
The hormone adrenaline helps prepare the body for action in a crisis. Its effects on the body include sharpening senses, getting muscles ready to work hard, and reducing pain. Its powerful effects make it useful as a drug, including for use in treating severe allergic reactions (called anaphylaxis).

Sugar control in the body
/explore/discover/sugar-control-in-the-body/
Sugar is a tasty treat but it is also vital for life. Nearly every living cell on Earth uses a sugar called glucose as its primary energy source. Including the cells that make up our bodies.

Menstrual cycle
/explore/discover/menstrual-cycle/
The menstrual cycle is an important process that prepares the body for the possibility of pregnancy. Each stage is driven by reproductive hormones that are regulated by the pituitary gland.

Dehydroepiandrosterone
/hormones/dehydroepiandrosterone/
Dehydroepiandrosterone is one of the most common circulating steroid hormones in the human body. It has some biological effects of its own but acts mainly as a precursor hormone that is converted into other hormones, including the sex steroids testosterone and oestrogen.

Pancreas: KS4 article
/explore/discover/pancreas-ks4-article/
The pancreas is an organ near the stomach. Most of its cells make digestive enzymes for the gut. Other cells make important hormones, including insulin, which control (regulate) the movement of sugar in the body.

cataracts
/glossary/glossary/cataracts/
opacity in the lens of the eye leading to impaired vision or blindness. Cataracts are more frequent in the elderly and in people with diabetes.

Empty sella syndrome
/endocrine-conditions/empty-sella-syndrome/
Empty sella syndrome is the term used to describe the appearance of a small, shrunken or absent pituitary gland on pituitary imaging. Most patients have no symptoms, and generally no treatment is required. If hormone deficiencies are present, hormone replacement therapy should be considered.

Does when I eat affect my weight?
/explore/resources/podcasts/season-two/does-when-i-eat-affect-my-weight/
Does when you eat affect your body weight? Do meal-timing based diets like intermittent fasting really work? How are your hormones involved and does this new diet fad stand up to scientific scrutiny?

Glucagonoma
/endocrine-conditions/glucagonoma/
A glucagonoma is a very rare tumour of the pancreas in which there is an increase in release of the hormone glucagon, causing a characteristic skin rash and raised blood sugar levels.

Pituitary gland
/glands/pituitary-gland/
The pituitary gland is a small pea-sized gland that plays a major role in regulating vital body functions and general wellbeing. It is referred to as the body's 'master gland' because it controls the activity of most other hormone-secreting glands.

Toxic thyroid nodule
/endocrine-conditions/toxic-thyroid-nodule/
A toxic thyroid nodule refers to a single nodule in the thyroid gland that releases excessive thyroid hormones. The excess thyroid hormone production is termed ‘hyperthyroidism’ and can causes symptoms of thyrotoxicosis (i.e. due to excess thyroid hormones).

Is there really a fertility crisis?
/explore/resources/podcasts/season-two/is-there-really-a-fertility-crisis/
Is humanity approaching a catastrophic decline in fertility. Are hormone-hijacking chemicals to blame for falling sperm counts? Should we be concerned and what can we do about it?

Endometrial cancer
/endocrine-conditions/endometrial-cancer/
Endometrial cancer is a form of cancer that originates from the tissue that lines the womb. This tissue is called the endometrium.

puberty
/glossary/glossary/puberty/
Start of the reproductive years when the body starts changing to develop into an adult body.

Prolactinoma
/endocrine-conditions/prolactinoma/
A prolactinoma is a benign tumour of the pituitary gland that produces excess amounts of the hormone prolactin. It responds well to medication and surgery is avoidable in the majority of cases.

Disclaimer
/about/disclaimer/
Nothing on or referenced by this site should be construed as offering medical advice.

Paraganglioma
/endocrine-conditions/paraganglioma/
A paraganglioma is a rare type of tumour that forms along major blood vessels and nerves. Paragangliomas can occur in the head, neck, chest or abdomen.

Prolactin
/hormones/prolactin/
Prolactin is a hormone produced in the pituitary gland, named because of its role in lactation. It also has other wide-ranging functions in the body, from acting on the reproductive system to influencing behaviour and regulating the immune system.

Androstenedione
/hormones/androstenedione/
Androstenedione is a steroid hormone that has weak, androgenic actions on the body itself. However, it mainly acts as a stepping stone in the manufacture of testosterone and oestrogen within the body.

Are my hormones making me horny?
/explore/resources/podcasts/season-three/are-my-hormones-making-me-horny/
What’s the difference between sexual desire and arousal? How does the contraceptive pill affect your sex drive? Which hormone has recently been found to boost sexual arousal in both men and women?

Are everyday chemicals harming my health?
/explore/resources/podcasts/season-one/are-everyday-chemicals-harming-my-health/
There are chemicals all around us, but can they interfere with our hormones? Endocrine disruptors have been linked with a number of health problems, so for the final episode in the series we look at where these chemicals are found and whether we should be worried.

adipocytes
/glossary/glossary/adipocytes/
specialised cells that store fat. Collectively they make up adipose (fat) tissue.

Adipose tissue
/glands/adipose-tissue/
Adipose tissue (body fat) is crucial for health. Along with fat cells, adipose tissue contains numerous nerve cells and blood vessels, storing and releasing energy to fuel the body and releasing important hormones vital to the body's needs.

Phaeochromocytoma
/endocrine-conditions/phaeochromocytoma/
A phaeochromocytoma is a rare tumour of the adrenal gland that produces excess amounts of hormones such as adrenaline and noradrenaline.

Cushing's syndrome
/endocrine-conditions/cushings-syndrome/
Cushing's syndrome is the name given to the collection of signs and symptoms that occur when the body is exposed to too much of the hormone cortisol.

Season One
/explore/resources/podcasts/season-one/
Hormones: The Inside Story

Season Two
/explore/resources/podcasts/season-two/
Hormones: The Inside Story

Season Three
/explore/resources/podcasts/season-three/
Hormones: The Inside Story

Pre-eclampsia
/endocrine-conditions/pre-eclampsia/
Pre-eclampsia is a condition that arises during pregnancy in which the expectant mother experiences very high blood pressure and protein in her urine; it can lead to a range of complications.

Is my soya latte messing with my hormones?
/explore/resources/podcasts/season-three/is-my-soya-latte-messing-with-my-hormones/
Should I be concerned about growth hormones in a cow's milk cappuccino? Are the plant oestrogens in a soya latte affecting my risk of cancer? Will almond milk damage my thyroid?