Why does pituitary tumour cause persistent headache?

The pituitary gland sits in a small bony space beneath the brain. As a tumour grows, it may press on the tissues covering that space or affect nearby blood vessels and nerves. Headache may feel deep, persistent, or different from earlier headaches; some people notice it more on waking or when bending and straining. The tumour can also change pituitary hormone output, and hormone disturbance may add symptoms such as tiredness, vision changes, thirst, or changes in periods or sexual function.

A headache has many possible causes, including migraine, infection, eye strain, and medication effects. Having persistent headache does not by itself establish a pituitary tumour. Assessment combines the symptom pattern with an examination, hormone blood tests, and sometimes magnetic resonance imaging.

Arrange a medical assessment if a headache is new, ongoing, worsening, or accompanied by visual symptoms or hormonal changes. Keep a brief record of when it begins, where it is felt, what makes it worse, and any nausea or vision difficulty. Bring a list of medicines and supplements. A clinician may check vision, eye movements, hormone function, and whether imaging or referral to an endocrinology or neurosurgery team is appropriate.

Seek emergency help for a sudden severe headache, new loss of vision, double vision, confusion, fainting, repeated vomiting, weakness, or difficulty speaking. These symptoms can signal bleeding or sudden pressure affecting the pituitary region and need immediate assessment.

Ask whether your symptoms suggest hormone excess or hormone deficiency, whether formal visual-field testing is needed, and which scan is suitable. You can also ask what changes should prompt urgent review and how headache treatment will fit with any tumour treatment.