Diabetes & Endocrinology

At the Thyroid/Parathyroid Center at BID Needham, our endocrinology experts develop personalized, long-term treatment plans that address every patient’s unique needs. We provide the most advanced therapy options rooted in the latest research. Our goal is to help you better understand and manage your thyroid condition.

• Hyperthyroidism: When the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone, it speeds up your metabolism. It also causes sudden weight loss, a faster heartbeat, sweating, nervousness and irritability. Your endocrinologist may prescribe anti-thyroid medication or suggest radioactive iodine or surgery to destroy or remove your thyroid gland.
• Hypothyroidism: Sometimes, the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough hormones. Over time, this causes unexplained weight gain, joint pain, infertility and heart disease. Taking a synthetic hormone can increase your hormone levels.
• Thyroid cancer: Cancer in the thyroid gland can cause a lump you can feel on your neck. You may have difficulty swallowing, neck or throat pain, swollen lymph nodes in your neck and hoarseness. Treatment can include removing all or part of your thyroid gland, thyroid hormone therapy and radioactive iodine.
• Thyroid nodule: Most thyroid cancers start as a lump or nodule on the thyroid gland. But 90% of thyroid nodules are noncancerous. To identify cancerous ones, your endocrinologist will evaluate your full medical history, conduct a complete physical exam and perform an ultrasound exam. A fine needle biopsy can sample the tissue and identify or rule out thyroid cancer if needed.

• Growth disorders: Noncancerous tumors on your pituitary gland can trigger your body to produce too much growth hormone. Medication or radiation therapy can slow hormone production. Growth hormone replacement therapy can help if you don’t produce enough growth hormone.
• Hypopituitarism: When you have low levels of multiple pituitary hormones, you may need thyroid, adrenal gonadal or growth hormone replacement.
• Hypothalamic hypogonadism: Women lose their menstrual cycle early if they do not produce the signal hormones that regulate their periods. Low signal hormone levels in men lead to low testosterone levels. Hormonal treatment for both men and women can restore balance and protect against osteoporosis (weak bones).
• Prolactinoma: This noncancerous pituitary gland tumor prompts you to produce too much of the hormone prolactin. You may have vision problems, infertility and other complications. Oral medication or removing the pituitary gland can lower your prolactin level.

• Aldosteronoma: This tumor on the adrenal cortex prompts your body to hold on to too much salt. Retaining salt can lead to high blood pressure. Your endocrinologist may recommend removing the tumor or the entire adrenal gland. Or, they may suggest medication to decrease the production of the hormone aldosterone.
• Cushing’s syndrome: Long-term overexposure to the stress hormone cortisol can create a fatty hump between your shoulders, a rounded face, and pink or purple stretch marks on your skin. You also can develop high blood pressure, bone loss and diabetes. Cortisol-reducing treatments include decreasing corticosteroid medications, removing tumors and taking medication to control cortisol production.
• Pheochromocytoma: These noncancerous tumors are rare. But they can trigger your body to produce hormones that raise blood pressure and heart rate. Blood pressure medication and removal of all or part of your adrenal gland can help.

Hormone problems that disrupt any part of the sexual response cycle can reduce or prevent sexual satisfaction for an individual or couple. These conditions can include erectile dysfunction or decreased desire. Your endocrinologist may recommend medication, hormone therapy, mechanical aids or psychological therapy.

This common hormonal imbalance in women causes problems with menstrual cycles, fertility, insulin resistance and lipid metabolism. Your endocrinologist may recommend medications to regulate your period, improve ovulation and impact insulin resistance. Lifestyle therapies to reduce Type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol risk may also help.