Hyperprolactinaemia
Hyperprolactinaemia means the pituitary gland is releasing more prolactin than the body needs. Prolactin is best known for triggering milk production after childbirth, but elevated levels at other times disrupt hormonal balance in both women and men, affecting fertility, sexual function, and bone health.
Key takeaways
- Stress during sampling, pregnancy, hypothyroidism and several medicines can raise prolactin without a prolactinoma.
- A raised result may need repeat testing and interpretation alongside symptoms rather than immediate treatment.
- Headache or visual change can indicate pressure from a pituitary mass and needs prompt assessment.
A dopamine-agonist listing does not establish the cause; prolactin level, medicine history, pregnancy plans and imaging guide care.
What symptoms can raised prolactin cause?
Effects may include irregular or absent periods, milk discharge unrelated to breastfeeding, infertility, low libido or low testosterone. Long-standing suppression of sex hormones can affect bone health. Symptoms and degree of elevation influence further testing.
When are dopamine agonists used?
Cabergoline or bromocriptine may lower prolactin and shrink a prolactinoma. Choice, monitoring and pregnancy planning require endocrine care. A causative medicine should not be stopped without advice. See women’s health and neurology for related context.
When to seek urgent care
Seek urgent care for sudden severe headache, new visual loss or double vision, fainting, confusion, weakness or repeated vomiting. These can indicate acute bleeding or pressure within a pituitary tumour.