Summary
After 15 years on the contraceptive pill, Linda, a 34-year-old reader who e-mailed me recently, came off it last year. When her periods hadn't returned after several months, her GP did blood tests. She was diagnosed with hyperprolactinaemia, raised levels of the hormone prolactin; this is normally responsible for stimulating breast development in pregnancy and lactation - high levels are abnormal otherwise.
Consultant gynaecologist Mr Michael Dooley of the Poundbury Clinic (mdooley.co.uk) says it's a common cause of women menstruating irregularly or not at all. Although fertility is suspended, sufferers often produce milk from their breasts. Hyperprolactinaemia can occur at any age, and even occasionally in men and children, but the symptoms are most often picked up in women who should be menstruating. Other symptoms include reduced libido, erectile dysfunction in men, headaches and visual disturbance (which should be taken very seriously). It lowers levels of oestrogen, so can lead to osteoporosis, and bone density should be monitored.See the full content of this document
Extract
Take the Tension Out of Pmt ; Health Notes
A common cause of hyperprolactinaemia is a brain tumour, usually benign, in the hormone-controlling pituitary gland. The tumour can block the production...
See the full content of this document
Sponsored links
