You will need
- - referral for laboratory tests;
- - consultation of the doctor.
Instruction
1
The hormone prolactin is responsible for the development of the corpus luteum in the woman's body and lactation, regulates water-salt metabolism in the body. The increase in prolactin can be both functional and caused by prolactinoma – benign tumour in the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland.
2
Increases blood levels of this hormone during stressful situations, after meals, after sex. Physiological increase of the hormone prolactin in the body takes place during pregnancy, when the blood increases the amount of hormones estrogen.
3
In other cases, the reason for the increased content of this hormone in the body can serve as disorders of the thyroid, oral contraceptives, trauma to the pituitary gland and some systemic diseases, including disorders of the pituitary and hypothalamus, chronic renal failure, neurosyphilis, tuberculosis. In women, functional hyperprolactinemia may be accompanied by various gynecological diseases.
4
The main symptoms of hyperprolactinemia in women: absence of menstruation, problems with fertility, vaginal dryness, decreased libido, painful intercourse, in the later stages may develop osteoporosis, vision impairment, decrease the metabolic processes in the CNS. Men like hormonal disorders lead to impotence.
5
Prolactin levels can be determined by diagnostic procedures, which include 3-fold the blood sample at 5-8 days of the menstrual cycle; the level of thyroid hormones; performance of computer and magnetic resonance tomography; fundus examination and visual field for the detection of pituitary tumors.
6
For the treatment of hyperprolactinemia used substitutive hormone therapy under the supervision of an endocrinologist. The main drug for the treatment of this disease, "Bromocriptine", it inhibits the secretion of prolactin, stimulates the body's natural mechanisms for its suppression.
7
The treatment of this disease is usually long, not less than 2-3 years, even after normalization of prolactin in laboratory tests. Periodically once in six months carried out the ultrasound and CT scan.
8
Usually 1-2 months after start of treatment restores ovulation and normal menstrual cycle, if necessary, requires additional diagnostic procedures, if the treatment does not lead to pregnancy at a regular sexual life.
9
If the cause of hyperprolactinemia was pituitary tumor, surgical treatment with removal of the overgrown tissue. With timely treatment to the doctor in the vast majority of cases it is possible to avoid the development of serious complications: blindness, osteoporosis and malignant tumors of the pituitary gland.