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.

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.

deep vein thrombosis
/glossary/glossary/deep-vein-thrombosis/
(DVT) a condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in a deep vein, usually in the leg or thigh. The blood clot can break off into the bloodstream and cause obstruction in other organs.

use of vocabulary
/about/use-of-vocabulary/
We recognise the diversity in gender identity, and that the use of gender-inclusive language is continually evolving and will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.

Circadian rhythm sleep disorders
/endocrine-conditions/circadian-rhythm-sleep-disorders/
Circadian rhythm sleep disorders occur when the circadian clock in the brain, which drives daily behavioural and physiological rhythms, is not synchronised with 'real' local time. This can result in abnormal sleep patterns, sleep loss and fatigue.

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

Hormones of pregnancy and labour
/explore/discover/hormones-of-pregnancy-and-labour/
This article describes hormones that play an important role in pregnancy and labour.

How do I find a patient support group?
/explore/discover/how-do-i-find-a-patient-support-group/
Throughout the website we provide links to relevant patient groups, who may be able to provide advice and support

Oestriol
/hormones/oestriol/
Oestriol is a hormone made during pregnancy that can be used to measure foetal health and predict when birth may happen.

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.

Female infertility
/endocrine-conditions/female-infertility/
Infertility is when a couple are unable to conceive a child after 12 months of trying (regular intercourse without the use of contraception). After investigation, this may be attributed to reasons identified in the male or female partner. In this article, reasons for infertility that affect the female partner will be discussed.

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.

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.

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.

Paget's disease
/endocrine-conditions/pagets-disease/
Paget's disease is a common, chronic bone disorder which may have no symptoms or it may cause pain, deformity and bone fracture. Early diagnosis of symptoms and treatment with medication will help to control Paget's disease.

Pharmacist
/students/careers/pharmacist/
Rachel Cornish, Lead Pharmacist: From researching how medications can affect the endocrine system to spending time with patients and helping with their medications on the ward, each day is always varied and you’re constantly learning.

fine needle aspiration
/glossary/glossary/fine-needle-aspiration/
the method used to obtain a tissue sample using a fine needle.

Activities
/explore/resources/activities/
Free, tried-and-tested resources to support teaching on hormones

Goitre
/endocrine-conditions/goitre/
Goitre is a term that means an enlarged thyroid gland, which can be due to different causes. It can have different effects depending on the type of swelling, location, how it affects the function of the thyroid gland, and how long it has been present. If needed, it may be treated in different ways with one option being surgical treatment.

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.

Endocrine system: KS4
/explore/discover/endocrine-system-ks4/
The endocrine system is one of two major communication networks in the body. The other is the nervous system. These two systems allow cells to communicate across distance. This is necessary for our cells to be able to work together as a single organism.

Resistance to thyroid hormone
/endocrine-conditions/resistance-to-thyroid-hormone/
Resistance to thyroid hormone is a rare genetic condition where some body tissues do not respond normally to thyroid hormones produced by the thyroid gland. It may be associated with no symptoms or with features of both an overactive and underactive thyroid.

In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF): KS4 article
/explore/discover/in-vitro-fertilisation-ivf-ks4-article/
IVF is used by couples experiencing infertility. It can overcome a number of different barriers to pregnancy. It can also be used with donor sperm and eggs, or when using a surrogate.

Thyroid cancer
/endocrine-conditions/thyroid-cancer/
Thyroid cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cells in the thyroid gland which may spread to areas around the thyroid and to other parts of the body. Thyroid cancer can affect people of all ages. Most patients are cured by the treatments now available.

Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS)
/explore/discover/ovarian-hyperstimulation-syndrome-ohss/
Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) is a side-effect of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment. It occurs due to over-stimulation of the ovaries by the hormone used to prepare the eggs for collection and fertilisation by sperm, in particular the hormone ‘human chorionic gonadotrophin’ (hCG).

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.

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

Rickets
/endocrine-conditions/rickets/
Rickets is a condition in children where there is abnormal softening of the bones due to the lack of key minerals. It is also known as osteomalacia in adults.

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).

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).

Animal research in science
/explore/discover/animal-research-in-science/
The controlled and regulated use of laboratory animals in medical research has helped to extend our understanding of the healthy and diseased lifecourse, as well as the development of novel and effective therapeutic interventions.

Careers
/students/careers/
Explore the career profiles of different people working in the health sector - what do they love about their job, what does their day-to-day look like, and what’s their advice for someone wanting to follow their career path?

Jet lag
/endocrine-conditions/jet-lag/
Rapid travel across time zones may lead to jet lag – a range of temporary symptoms occurring because the body's internal (circadian/daily) clock cannot immediately reset.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

Have I got a thyroid problem?
/explore/resources/podcasts/season-three/have-i-got-a-thyroid-problem/
Do you ever feel tired and sluggish, and find yourself putting on a few pounds? Or perhaps you’re anxious, irritable, and no matter how much you eat, you're just not gaining weight? Does Dr Google think your thyroid is to blame for all your woes?

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?

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.

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.

Hypophosphataemia
/endocrine-conditions/hypophosphataemia/
Hypophosphataemia is the term used to describe low levels of phosphate in the blood. It is most commonly caused by hyperparathyroidism and vitamin D deficiency.

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.

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

Hormones and conservation
/explore/discover/hormones-and-conservation/
The study of animal reproductive systems and regular monitoring of reproductive and stress hormones is important for conservation.

Physiotherapist
/students/careers/physiotherapist/
Katherine Cook, Physiotherapist & Physiotherapy Lecturer: Physiotherapists help people of all ages to improve their health and wellbeing, there aren’t many areas of healthcare where you don’t find a physio working as part of the team.

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.

Amenorrhoea
/endocrine-conditions/amenorrhoea/
Amenorrhoea is the term used to describe a lack of 'periods' (menstrual cycles) in women. The management of amenorrhoea depends on the underlying cause.

Female infertility: KS4 article
/explore/discover/female-infertility-ks4-article/
Many couples experience difficulties in conceiving a child. About one in six UK couples find themselves unable to conceive after a year of trying. At this point, they are considered to have infertility. But it’s important to understand that this diagnosis does not mean it is impossible that they could still naturally conceive.

Feedback loops
/explore/discover/feedback-loops/
This article explains what feedback loops are and how they work. It explains the difference between positive and negative feedback loops, and gives examples of how both are used in the body.

benign
/glossary/glossary/benign/
the word benign is often used to refer to a medical condition that is not cancerous and usually will not become life-threatening. However, it may require treatment, e.g. a benign pituitary adenoma, to avoid health complications.

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?

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?

Male contraceptives
/explore/discover/male-contraceptives/
There is a great deal of ongoing research into developing new male contraceptive options. Currently, the only available male contraceptive options are undergoing a surgical procedure called a vasectomy and using a condom.

Oxytocin
/hormones/oxytocin/
Oxytocin is a hormone that acts on organs in the body (including the breast and uterus) and as a chemical messenger in the brain controlling key aspects of the female reproductive system including childbirth and lactation.

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? 

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?

Carcinoid tumour
/endocrine-conditions/carcinoid-tumour/
Carcinoid tumours are slow-growing tumours that arise from specialised cells that release hormones.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Can my pet pick up my stress?
/explore/resources/podcasts/season-three/can-my-pet-pick-up-my-stress/
S3:2 Do animals recognise when we are feeling the pressure? How can dogs help us when our stress hormones fail? And how has studying stress in horses helped us understand human hormones?

Hormone Hospital Challenge
/students/hormone-hospital-challenge/
Hormone Hospital Challenge is an interactive online revision game designed for GCSE and Level 5 school students, and Junior Cycle biology courses to test and deepen their understanding of hormones.

Melatonin
/hormones/melatonin/
Melatonin is mainly produced by the pineal gland and although it appears not to be essential for human physiology, it is known to have a range of different effects when taken as a medication.

What is homeostasis?
/explore/discover/what-is-homeostasis/
Hormones are responsible for key homeostatic processes including control of blood glucose levels and control of blood pressure.

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?

Should I take a vitamin D supplement?
/explore/resources/podcasts/season-one/should-i-take-a-vitamin-d-supplement/
Vitamin D, the hormone in disguise, is currently in the spotlight as the world's favourite supplement, but is it really all it's cracked up to be?

Thyroid gland
/glands/thyroid-gland/
The thyroid gland is a small gland in the neck. It makes hormones which help control energy levels, growth and metabolism.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Cushing's disease
/endocrine-conditions/cushings-disease/
Cushing's disease is the condition resulting from a pituitary tumour secreting excess amounts of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which then stimulates the adrenal glands to release excess amounts of the hormone cortisol.

Adrenal glands
/glands/adrenal-glands/
The adrenal glands are small glands attached to the top of each kidney. The human body has two adrenal glands that release chemical messengers called hormones into the bloodstream. These hormones travel via the blood to have an action in other parts of the human body.

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.

Graves' disease
/endocrine-conditions/graves-disease/
Graves' disease is an autoimmune thyroid disease. The body produces antibodies against the thyroid gland which can cause it to become overactive, resulting in increased thyroid hormone production and hyperthyroidism.

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?

Cortisol: KS4 article
/explore/discover/cortisol-ks4-article/
Cortisol (also known as hydrocortisone) is a steroid hormone that regulates a very wide range of processes throughout the body. It is perhaps most famous for its role in helping the body respond to stress.

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.

What is a hormone?
/explore/discover/what-is-a-hormone/
Hormones are chemical messengers. They are nearly always made by endocrine glands, and they travel in the blood. Their signals can affect different organs and tissues in different ways. Hormones are especially important for growth, metabolism, appetite, puberty, and sexual reproduction.

Kisspeptin
/hormones/kisspeptin/
Kisspeptin is a protein that is essential for reproductive hormone secretion and fertility. The gene (which provides the blue-print for the kisspeptin protein) was first discovered in 1996 by a group of researchers working in Hershey, Pennsylvania in the USA. It is therefore named after the city's chocolate 'Kisses', which are made in Hershey.

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.

Clinical Lecturer
/students/careers/clinical-lecturer/
Dr Edouard Mills, Clinical Lecturer: To be a Clinical Lecturer, you need to have graduated from medical school and started your medical training as a doctor (and have a medical specialisation – such as endocrinology).

Insulin
/hormones/insulin/
Insulin is an essential hormone produced by the pancreas. Its main role is to control glucose levels in our bodies.

Somatostatinoma
/endocrine-conditions/somatostatinoma/
Somatostatinomas are rare neuroendocrine tumours that arise from tumour cells originated from specialised hormone-producing cells in the endocrine pancreas and duodenum (first part of small intestine).

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.

Sheehan's syndrome
/endocrine-conditions/sheehans-syndrome/
Sheehan's syndrome is a rare condition affecting the pituitary gland that occurs as a result of heavy bleeding during or after childbirth.

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.