Um... What Is the Endocrine System Again?

If you’ve ever Googled “hormones” at 11 p.m. after noticing a shift in your child’s mood, growth, or energy, you’re not alone. And if the search results made you feel overwhelmed or unsure where to begin—well, you’re not alone there either.

Let’s start with the basics.

The endocrine system is your body’s internal messaging network. Instead of texts or emails, it uses hormones—tiny chemical messengers that travel through the bloodstream to tell different parts of your body what to do and when to do it.

Hormones help regulate growth, puberty, metabolism, energy, mood, sleep, stress, and even bone strength. They’re involved in everything from waking up in the morning to how your body handles sugar to when a child’s voice starts to change. Quiet, powerful, and always working in the background—hormones are the unsung heroes (and sometimes troublemakers) of the body.

Here are a few key players:

• 🧠 The Pituitary Gland: Often called the “master gland,” it sits at the base of the brain and controls many other glands. It helps regulate growth, puberty, and metabolism.

• 🦋 The Thyroid: A butterfly-shaped gland in the neck that helps control energy, body temperature, and weight.

• 🌱 The Adrenal Glands: Located above the kidneys, they help manage stress and blood pressure.

• 🧬 The Gonads (Ovaries or Testes): These control puberty and reproductive hormones like estrogen and testosterone.

• 🍬 The Pancreas: Known for regulating blood sugar through insulin.

When everything is working well, the endocrine system runs quietly in the background. But when something’s off, it can show up in subtle ways: slow growth, early or delayed puberty, weight changes, extreme fatigue, mood shifts, or a feeling that something just isn’t quite right.

The tricky part? Most of these symptoms can also be brushed off as “normal”—which is why so many families find themselves in limbo, unsure whether to wait or dig deeper.

That’s where I come in.

As a pediatric endocrinologist, my job isn’t just to run tests and give answers. It’s to listen. To help parents and kids connect the dots. To translate the language of hormones into something that feels clear and manageable—because understanding what’s going on inside the body should never feel out of reach.

So if you’ve been wondering:

• “Is this just a phase?”
• “Am I overthinking it?”
• “Should I bring this up to someone?”

You’re not alone. And it’s not too early—or too late—to ask.

The endocrine system might be complicated, but your questions are valid.

Let’s figure it out, together.

Warmly,

Dr. Penny