• News & Events
• University Health Care
• Patient Care
  

• About Us
  • Mission
  • Doctors and Staff
• Academics & Education
  • A. Marsh Poulson Lectureship
• Research
  • Research-ENDO
  • Research Other
• Outreach
• Patient Information
  • Locations
  • New Infertility Patients
  • New Gynecology Patients
• Contact Us
• Services

Galactorrhea

The elevation of prolactin results in galactorrhea (breast milk secretion) and anovulation (lack of ovulation) which causes amenorrhea (absence or cessation of menses). The combination of amenorrhea and galactorrhea is associated with hyperprolactinemia 66% of the time. Because of the anovulation, infertility is one of the consequences of the disorder. After ruling out hypothyroidism and drug induced elevations, the most common cause of hyperprolactinemia is a pituitary microadenoma. Microadenomas can be controlled easily with a number of drugs available and only rarely require surgery. They are not malignant tumors. With treatment, one may expect a resumption of ovulation and menses and the cessation of the breast secretions. Your reproductive endocrinologist will detect the cause of the galactorrhea. An MRI of the pituitary gland may be part of the evaluation.