HYPERPROLACTINEMIA (excess prolactin hormone secretion in the blood).

Hyperprolactinemia is a serious issue and you need to be aware of what it is all about.

In this post, I would be sharing what hyperprolactinemia is all about, factors leading to hyperprolactinemia, diagnosis, specific drugs-dopamine agonist used in the treatment of hyperprolactinemia.

What is Hyperprolactinemia?
As a female you may experience low sex drive( low libido), milky discharge from your nipples lactating when your not pregnant, pain in the breast, absence of menstrual discharge, infertility, visual defects etc.
The above listed symptoms are associated with hyperprolactinemia.

Coming back to what this is
Hyperprolactinemia is a condition characterized by excess levels of prolactin in the blood.

Prolactin is a hormone normally produced by a gland known as the pituitary gland, this hormone plays a vital role in the development of the mammary gland during pregnancy.
After pregnancy the level of prolactin is higher than the normal range.

Source

Milk production is stimulated in women while breastfeeding, due to the high levels of prolactin it would be difficult to take in again within this period thus making it impossible to ovulate.
But as time goes by after breastfeeding, the prolactin level becomes normal.

Source
This condition is a nightmare to women who are victims of it, as a woman knowing you are fertile means a lot and taking in brings so much joy.
But Hyperprolactinemia is seen one of the causes of infertility.

Causes of Hyperprolactinemia

Physiological factors includes the following:

1. Nipple stimulation- the excitement thay comes with breast fondling and sucking has made ladies prone to hyperprolactinemia.
   Prolonged suckling is a major factor.
2. Pain
3. Pregnancy
4. Jugging and running exercise
5. Stress
6. Sleep, etc

Certin drugs as well cause hyperprolactinemia

1. Some Antihypertensives-Calcium channel blockers e.g Verapamil
2. Dopamine antagonists e.g Metclopramide, antipsychotics(risperidone)
3. Drugs that deplete dopamine
4. Some H2 receptor antagonist e.g cimetidine, ranatidine.
5. Some narcotics, etc.

Pathologic factors include:

1. Hypothyroidism
2. Polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS)
3. CNS disease
4. Pituitary tumor-prolactinoma
5. Meningioma
6. Cushing disease
7. Acromegaly
8. Chronic renal failure, etc.

Sometimes lets know that the cause could as well be idiopathic meaning that it has no cause.

Symptoms of hyperprolactinemia

I had listed certain symptoms at the beginning of this, other symptoms includes;

1. Cranial palsy
2. Osteoporosis( a condition suffered by menopausal women where the bones become too porous hence easily subject to fracture)
3. Painful intercourse due to vaginal dryness, etc.

Diagnosis Of Hyperprolactinemia

1. Diagnosis usually involves a routine blood test to find out prolactin levels. This is carried out in women with galactorrhea, amenorrhea, infertility.
2. Also magnetic resonance imaging scan is carried out to find out if there is a pituitary growth, MRI is very sensitive in detecting tumors in the pituitary and even their sizes.
3. Normal X-ray, CT scan can as well give images of adenomas if present.
   
   Source

Treatment Of Hyperprolactinemia.

To tackle this you need to know the actual cause or root cause of this condition.

1. Stress should by all means be curbed

2. The immune system ought to be boosted

3. Watch your meal, cut down on excess carbohydrate intake.
   
   Source

4. Bromocriptine and carbegoline are useful in medical treatment of this condition.

5. Patients who persistently are resistant to medical therapy and suffer visual defects even while medical treatment is carried out should undergo pituitary surgery.

Bromocriptine
This comes in brands like parlodel and cycloset.
It is a semisynthetic ergot alkaloid and a dopamine receptor agonist.
This drug is effective in hyperprolactinemia-associated dysfunctions, it does the following:

1. Lowering serum prolactin levels.
2. Eliminating galactorrhea.
3. Decreasing tumor size.
   Bromocriptine is as well useful in the treatment of Parkinson disease, type2 Diabetes mellitus etc.

Some side effects associated with Bromocriptine

1. Hallucinations
2. Psychotic disturbance
3. Hypersexuality
4. Insomnia
5. Hypotension
6. Nasal congestion
7. GIT hemorrhage
8. Leg cramps, etc.

An active ingredient quingolide with a brand name Norprolac is also used but Bromocriptine is often preferred.
Please ensure you take good care of your health at all time.

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