High prolactin: what to do if you suffer from hyperprolactinemia?

By Cristiano Antonino On May 14, 2023

Hyperprolactinemia (high prolactin) is a disorder characterised by increased blood levels of prolactin, a hormone involved in various functions in the body and, in particular, responsible for the development of the mammary glands and the production of breast milk

Prolactin is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland, a small endocrine gland located at the base of the cranial box.

Prolactin is usually present in rather low levels in the blood of men and women who are not pregnant or breastfeeding.

Hyperprolactinaemia is a treatable disorder that particularly affects female patients under the age of forty and, if left untreated, can adversely affect the quality of life of those affected.

High prolactin: what are the symptoms?

Hyperprolactinaemia can be asymptomatic or manifest itself with certain characteristic symptoms, such as:

milk production in people who are not breastfeeding (galactorrhoea)
decrease in bone mineral density (osteopenia/osteoporosis);
decreased libido;
infertility.

In particular, female patients may manifest

irregularity of the menstrual cycle (oligo/amenorrhoea)
vaginal dryness
pain during sexual intercourse (dyspareunia)

Male patients, on the other hand, may present with

decreased testosterone levels
erectile dysfunction
enlarged mammary glands (gynaecomastia)

Prolactinoma among causes of hyperprolactinaemia

An important cause of hyperprolactinaemia is prolactinoma, a benign tumour that develops in the pituitary gland.

Hyperprolactinaemia can, however, also be caused by other pathologies (e.g. hypothyroidism, polycystic ovary syndrome and chronic nephropathy) or drug therapies (medication for the treatment of high blood pressure, nausea and gastrointestinal disorders, birth control pills, hormonal therapies).

Patients with prolactinoma may experience other symptoms in addition to those related to hyperprolactinaemia, including headaches and visual disturbances due to the possible presence of a large adenoma (macroadenoma).

What to do if you have high prolactin

The first step in diagnosis is the assessment of prolactin levels, which is done by taking a simple blood sample.

If hyperprolactinaemia is present, it is necessary to rule out a condition linked to concomitant drug therapy and to carry out further diagnostic tests to determine the underlying cause of the disorder.

Therapy depends on the underlying cause and the extent of the clinical complaints.

Hyperprolactinaemia that is asymptomatic and causes no further hormonal dysfunction does not require specific therapy.

Prolactinoma, on the other hand, requires specific, usually effective and resolving treatments, which include pharmacological therapy with dopamine agonist drugs, or, in selected cases, surgical treatment to remove the tumour.

Amenorrhoea: What It Is, Symptoms, Cause

Cervical Cancer: The Importance Of Prevention

Ovarian Cancer, An Interesting Research By The University Of Chicago Medicine: How To Starve Cancer Cells?