Endocrinology

Endocrinology and Metabolism Subspecialty Clinic

Since endocrine diseases are associated with reproductive disorders in many cases, it seems necessary to examine the endocrine glands before pregnancy or the beginning of infertility treatments. Patients with a history of endocrine diseases are referred to the clinic from other clinics of Mom Fertility and Infertility Treatment Centre to be examined before starting their treatments. Because of the chronic nature of these diseases, most patients need to regularly visit their physician at specified intervals. The endocrine glands, the dysfunctions of which lead to reproductive disorders, include the pituitary gland, the thyroid gland, the adrenal glands, and sex glands.

The pituitary gland or hypophysis is a small gland beneath the brain that secretes numerous hormones. The most important hormones secreted by this gland that are associated with reproductive disorders are prolactin (milk-secreting hormone) and gonad-stimulating hormones. For instance, some pituitary masses may lead to the oversecretion of prolactin and cause menstrual and lactation disorders in women and infertility and sexual disorders in men. In addition, decrease or no secretion of gonad-stimulating hormones from the pituitary gland are associated with delayed infertility menstruation. 

The thyroid gland is located in front of the trachea in the neck. Thyroid hormones play an important role in cell differentiation and body metabolism, reproductive disorders, and miscarriage. Common thyroid diseases include hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and diffuse and nodular goitre.

The adrenal glands are two small glands located above the kidneys that secrete numerous hormones. These hormones are involved in blood pressure regulation, immune responses regulation, the appearance of secondary sex characteristics, and metabolism. 

Sex glands or gonads, which include testicles in men and ovaries in women, secrete male and female hormones in both sexes and are responsible for the appearance of secondary sex characteristics, puberty, and fertility. Common gonadal disorders include the deficiency of secondary sex hormones and increased secretion of male sex hormones in women that lead to menstrual disorders, infertility, growth of unwanted hair, masculine baldness, and treatment-resistant acne.

Other diseases that are treated in this clinic are metabolic diseases such as hyperglycemia (type-1 and type-2 diabetes and gestational diabetes), blood lipid disorders, and obesity, metabolic bone diseases (osteoporosis), problems with the regulation of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamins.

In cases that the patients need to follow a special diet for better control their underlying disease (e.g. diabetes and blood lipid disorders), they are referred to the nutrition unit as one of the sections of Endocrinology and Metabolism Subspecialty Clinic.