Infertility

Elevated Prolactin?

Hi all.. I'v been recently diagnosed with PCOS and today the nurse from my OB/GYN's office just called with more blood work results and said that my prolactin was slightly elevated.. (32 - she told me that normally it is not above 30 for my age) so of course I google this and am freaking out! It seems to be a pituitary problem but can also be caused by many things including PCOS from what I've read.. does anyone else have this or know more about it? TIA
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Re: Elevated Prolactin?

  • I found out I had elevated prolactin and started googling.  Don't do it!  I had to go in for a second round of bloodwork to confirm it.  Then I had an MRI.  I do not have a tumor, but I am now on the med (parlodel) that I would be on if I did have a tumor.  My prolactin levels have come down and we are now working on all our other issues.

     

    There were several other girls who responded when I posted about this, some had the tumor, some did not, all said it was no big deal and nothing to freak out about.  They were right, stay calm!

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  • Yep. I have elevated prolactin. It is not a big deal. You will have an MRI to see if you have the growth on your pituitary gland. If so, then they'll probably put you on bromocriptine. It's got some yucky side effects at first, but you'll get used to it quickly.

    Also, I might ask them to re-test you. You are right on the borderline. This sounds weird, but it could be increased if you had ANY nipple stimulation at all - I'm talking you brushed your boob in the shower. I know mine was much more increased than it really was because I didn't know that before the test.

    Good luck!

     

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  • My prolactin was slightly elevated because of a Thyroid issue (which a lot of people with PCOS may also have). With the drugs to normalize my thyroid, the prolactin went down after a couple of months as well.

    I know it is scary when you see things like tumor. But patuitary issues is probably the easiest type of tumor to treat, if in fact that is the issue. Usually though if it is a direct patuitary gland issue, the prolactin levels are WAY off. Since your prolactin level is only slightly off, it most likely is caused by another issue though that can be fixed with medication. 

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  • Thanks guys for the info/support... My doc does want to re-test in a month.. a few years ago I had blood work for a physical and the doc said my thyroid level was slightly off (I honestly don't remember if it was over or under active) but I wonder if that has something to do with it?? I really would hate to be on medicine for this and the fact that I might have a tumor in me scares me.. but.. I guess I gotta deal with it.... Sad Thanks for listening. . . .
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  • imagekrissyh21:

    My prolactin was slightly elevated because of a Thyroid issue (which a lot of people with PCOS may also have). With the drugs to normalize my thyroid, the prolactin went down after a couple of months as well.

    I know it is scary when you see things like tumor. But patuitary issues is probably the easiest type of tumor to treat, if in fact that is the issue. Usually though if it is a direct patuitary gland issue, the prolactin levels are WAY off. Since your prolactin level is only slightly off, it most likely is caused by another issue though that can be fixed with medication. 

    Exactly.  I had the same issue.

    A: prolactin is SUPER finicky.  Being stressed, inadvertant nipple stimulation, and even very mild hypothyroidism can all cause elevated prolactin.  Definitely ask for a retest, and have your T4, T3, and TSH tested as well.

    B: only in very rare cases is elevated prolactin due to benign pituitary tumors.  In these cases, the levels are in the 100s to 1000s range. 

    C: if your prolactin is persistently high, and if it is not due to thyroid (as it is for me), it is easily managed by medication. 

    D: the biggest TTC issue with elevated prolactin is failure to ovulate.  So even if your prolactin is "elevated", if you ovulate then the elevation is harmless anyway.

    HTH!

    Elizabeth

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  •  

    B: only in very rare cases is elevated prolactin due to benign pituitary tumors.  In these cases, the levels are in the 100s to 1000s range. 

    I just wanted to say this isn't always true.  Pituitary adenomas (tumors) are actually very common.  I had one and it was non-functioning (non-secreating) so my prolatin level was only 35. 

    Go ask you doctor for an MRI.  Not the most fun thing, but if you have a tumor, you can either take medicine or get it removed (however it needs to be treated) and go on your merry way...

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  • I've had an MRI on my head before (open MRI) and they were eh.. ok. I do have a cyst in my skull so I was getting MRI's every 3-6 months to monitor that. They were also doin the MRI with contrast until I suffered a MAJOR allergic reaction to the dye.. so no more of that for me! Having the tumor removed (if I even have one) sounds pretty major!!
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  • MrsAMR - true enough - I meant specifically that it is more common for elevated prolactin to result from other "sources" (stress, nipple stimulation, thryoid, etc) than from pituitary tumors.  Either way, the first step is usually a re-test :)
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  •  I had an elevated prolactin of 37.  They did an MRI and I had a 4mm pituitary adenoma.   I started dostinex on a Monday and found out I was pregnant that Wednesday!   After baby, I went back for an MRI, tumor is gone and now I can't get pregnant!  I don't understand!

    Good luck!

  • I had elevated prolactin on bw..48.  after an MRI we found out that I have a 4-5mm microadenoma (pituitary tumor). I take dostinex (cabergoline) 2 times a week and it regulated my cycles after about 6 weeks.  after I came off the pill i did not get my period and this was the cause.  I will not get it surgically removed....the complications scare me more than taking this medication does.  I was totally freaked when I was diagnosed, but in all honestly, it really is no big deal.  get it diagnosed and then treat it.  you will be fine!  GL!
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