Prevalence of hyperprolactinemia in anovulatory women

Obstet Gynecol. 1980 Jul;56(1):65-9.

Abstract

To determine the prevalence of hyperprolactinemia in an ovulatory patients presenting to a general gynecology clinic, a 1-year prospective study (1978) was instituted. A total of 119 patients with at least 3 months of anovulation were screened with serum prolactin determinations. Those patients demonstrating hyperprolactinemia were further evaluated with a serum TSH level and hypocycloidal polytomography of the pituitary sella. In patients with anovulation with or without galactorrhea, a hyperprolactinemia prevalence rate of 15% was established. Anovulatory patients with galactorrhea had a hyperprolactinemia prevalence rate of 43%. This was compared to the 9% prevalence of hyperprolactinemia in patients with nongalactorrheic anovulation (P less than .001). Twenty-two percent of the patients with nongalactorrheic anovulation (2 of 9) were found to have a prolactin-secreting pituitary adenoma. In patients with hyperprolactinemia, galactorrhea, and anovulation, 67% (6 of 9) of patients had a prolactin-secreting pituitary adenoma. The authors therefore conclude that the 15% prevalence rate of hyperprolactinemia in all anovulatory women is sufficiently high to warrant continued screening of serum prolactin determinations in all anovulatory women.

MeSH terms

  • Adenoma / blood
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anovulation / blood*
  • Anovulation / complications
  • Female
  • Galactorrhea / blood
  • Humans
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / blood
  • Pregnancy
  • Prolactin / blood*
  • Prolactin / metabolism
  • Thyrotropin / blood
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Prolactin
  • Thyrotropin