How will I feel when I have a high level of prolactin?
In women, excess prolactin can cause infertility, irregular or absent menstrual periods, persistent milk secretion from the breasts, reduced libido and soreness vaginally during sex due to lack of vaginal secretions In men, excess prolactin can cause impotence, breast development and also secretion of milk from the breasts In both men and women, the pituitary adenoma can enlarge to the extent that it encroaches on the normal pituitary tissue and surrounding structures. This may lead to a failure of the normal pituitary to produce other hormones and encroachment on the eye nerves can result in visual difficulties. What test will I need? 1. Besides blood test for prolactin your doctor will also check your thyroid hormones 2. Pregnancy test may be required for some women 3. Occasionally a TRH test may be required. In this test a hormone called TRH is injected into a vein and blood taken to check prolactin before and at 20 and 60 minutes later. 4. Vision will be checked including the visua
