Unable to conceive? Do you also experience missed periods and headaches?

A small growth in your brain inside the pituitary gland may be responsible for your symptoms and is treatable!

Published Date : 2022-08-13T06:21:54.319Z

Updated Date : 2022-08-13T06:21:54.340Z

What is this growth?

The growth is called a pituitary adenoma. It secretes execss amounts of a hormone called Prolactin. Prolactin is responsible for the inability to conceive and other symptoms.

Normal Function

Prolactin is the hormone that is normally required by a new mother to promote milk production for the baby.

Excess Prolactin

Excess prolactin may produce milk production even in a non-pregnant woman.

Primary Symptoms

Irregular cycles, anovulatory cycles and resultant infertility are the symptoms noted.

Compression Symptoms

If the growth inside the brain is too large, it starts compressing the nerves of the eyes, and may produce headaches and blindness

How to diagnose

The best test to diagnose is the level of Prolactin in the blood.

Serum Prolactin

Serum Prolactin should be measured early morning in fasting state. If it is elevated it is indicative of hyperprolactinemia

How to treat

Treatment is attempted by medications and if not successfull then surgical removal of the growth.

Medicines

Bromocriptine, and/or carbidopa are tried to allievate the symptoms and also attempt to shrink the growth.

Surgical Removal

Removing the growth by surgery may also be done.