Has anyone ever had a prolactinoma diagnosed?

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We have been trying for a baby for quite some time and have been referred to a Gynaecologist who after examining blood test results thinks I may have a prolactinoma, which is a benign tumour in the pituarity gland in the brain and therefore this causes my body to produce too much prolactin, which is preventing me from getting pregnant. Has anybody else suffered from this and if so did the treatment (i.e. tablets) help and did you go on to conceive. Any advice appreciated.
Symptoms of Prolactinoma:
In women:
* Abnormal milk flow from the breast in a woman who is not pregnant or nursing (galactorrhea)
* Breast tenderness
* Stopping of menstruation not related to menopause
* Decreased sexual interest
* Headache
* Infertility
* Vision changes
In women, treatment can improve:
* Infertility
* Irregular menstruation
* Loss of sexual interest
* Milk flow not related to childbirth or nursing
A woman with a prolactinoma should discuss her plans to conceive with her physician, so she can be carefully evaluated prior to becoming pregnant. This evaluation will include a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to assess the size of the tumor and an eye examination with measurement of visual fields. As soon as a patient is pregnant, her doctor will usually advise that she stop taking bromocriptine or cabergoline, the common treatments for prolactinoma. Most endocrinologists see patients every two months throughout the pregnancy. The patient should consult her endocrinologist promptly if she develops symptoms—particularly headaches, visual changes, nausea, vomiting, excessive thirst or urination, or extreme lethargy. Bromocriptine or cabergoline treatment may be renewed and additional treatment may be required if the patient develops symptoms from growth of the tumor during pregnancy.  (+ info)

I have a what is called a prolactinoma.This makes you gain weight & I cant seem to lose it can someone help me

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Prolactinoma is a pituratary tumor that makes your body think that it is pregant. Even if you are not, you loose your periods, gain weight, and produce milk. I have had 3 children but this tumor still effects me on a daily basis. I am a little over weight and would love to drop some pounds in time for summer, but with my condition it is really hard I have tried alot of things, but still no help. If anyone has any insight that would be great.
How are they currently treating your tumor? I'm assuming your probably taking prolactin-inhibiting hormone injections... Is it a tumor they will need to remove? Also, are they giving you any glucocorticoid therapy? This could all be contributing to your weight problem.

I would suggest they test for other pituitary problems if they haven't already. If there are other problems, there could many reasons you are having trouble losing weight... and most likely only the corrections of these hormone imbalances will help you.

I wish you the best of luck and hope that all is well with you and your family. Best wishes!  (+ info)

Do you have Prolactinoma? Overactive Piuitary gland causing a brain tumor?

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If so, how are you treating it?
No.  (+ info)

Why does a prolactinoma cause heat intolerance?

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Does anyone know?
cookie_t , Prolactinoma is not, by itself, considered a cause of heat intolerance. This tumor is not cancerous but can cause increased secretion of prolactin. Hyperprolactinemia (excess) can also be caused by an imbalance in the hormones which control the secretion. Hypothyroidism (low thyroid function) can also cause hyperprolactinemia. Because this pituitary area is next to an area which produces thyroid-stimulating hormone, the prolactinoma may be causing or related to decreased thyroid function (hypothyroidism) which can result in heat intolerance. Perhaps some lab tests for thyroid hormones would help solve this finding?  (+ info)

Has anyone had issues getting pregnant with a Prolactinoma?

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Hi Guys,

Im 25 (turning 26 in september) and I have a Prolactinoma. This is a small non cancerous tumor on your puturity gland in your brain.
The puturitry glad controls pretty much everything and is the size of your pinky finger nail. My tumor is about 4.5mm and Im on a drug called Dostinex to shrink it. Im on 1 tablet once a week and take it every single friday night becuase it makes me sick the next day. I have been in treatment for this since OCT 2005.

My question is that I want to start having kids in the next year or so and am wondering i f there is anyone out there with a similarsituationn? I would love to know if you had trouble conceiving and how did your tumor go with the pregnancy?
Also did you just stop your medication and then start trying?

Anyone with any info on this would be great. I have MRI's, blood tests and expensive doctors appointments once a year (coming up this december) and hopefully this year my tumor will have shrunk and we are makingprogresss with the medication.
I do not have a prolactinoma but I do have high prolactin from a medication I was taking. It was so bad I stopped getting my periods, my breasts grew etc etc. We lowered my prolactin by taking me off the meds but my prolactin never went down to a normal range. However, I guess I began to ovulate - I had normal periods. I became pregnant with 1 month of trying.

My friend does have a prolactinoma. She became pregnant with one month of trying but had an ectopic pregnancy. She lost her tube and tried again. With one tube and a prolactinoma she became pregnant again with one month of trying. She went off her meds during pregnancy and things were fine. She was just monitored. She is back on now.  (+ info)

what is the difference between sarcoidosis and prolactinoma?

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prolactinoma
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcoidosis
One condition affects the pituitary (a tumor)...the other the lungs (granulomas of the lungs or the lymph nodes).  (+ info)

Does having a prolactinoma (pituitary tumor) cause weight gain. I used to be petite, now Im 220 llbs.?

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pituitary gland controls your growth, blood pressure, thyroid gland, even your energy! If you have a pituitary tumor it could be messing with your hormones and changing these things. (in your case weight / growth)

(PS I am not sure on these facts, I just remember reading about this)  (+ info)

what is the correct treatment for a prolactinoma?

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leyla - According ton the National Institutes of Health ,

How is prolactinoma treated?

Medical Treatment
The goal of treatment is to return prolactin secretion to normal, reduce tumor size, correct any visual abnormalities, and restore normal pituitary function. In the case of very large tumors, only partial achievement of this goal may be possible. Because dopamine is the chemical that normally inhibits prolactin secretion, doctors may treat prolactinoma with bromocriptine or cabergoline, drugs that act like dopamine. This type of drug is called a dopamine agonist. These drugs shrink the tumor and return prolactin levels to normal in approximately 80 percent of patients. Both have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of hyperprolactinemia. Bromocriptine is the only dopamine agonist approved for the treatment of infertility. Another dopamine agonist, pergolide, is available in the U.S., but is not approved for treating conditions that cause high blood levels of prolactin.

Bromocriptine is associated with side effects such as nausea and dizziness. To avoid these side effects, it is important for bromocriptine treatment to start slowly. An example of a typical approach used by an experienced endocrinologist follows:

Begin by taking a quarter of a 2.5 milligram tablet of bromocriptine with a snack at bedtime. After 3 days, increase the dose to a quarter of a tablet with breakfast and a quarter at bedtime. After 3 more days, take half a tablet twice a day, and 3 days later, one tablet at night and half with breakfast. Finally, the dose is increased to one tablet twice a day. If prolactin is still high, add half a tablet with lunch. If the medication is well tolerated, increase the dose to a full tablet. If side effects develop with a higher dose, return to the previous dosage. With time, side effects disappear while the drug continues to lower prolactin.

Bromocriptine treatment should not be interrupted without consulting a qualified endocrinologist. Prolactin levels often rise again in most people when the drug is discontinued. In some, however, prolactin levels remain normal, so the doctor may suggest reducing or discontinuing treatment every two years on a trial basis.

Cabergoline is also associated with side effects such as nausea and dizziness, but these may be less common and less severe than with bromocriptine. As with bromocriptine therapy, side effects may be avoided if treatment is started slowly. An example of a typical approach used by an experienced endocrinologist follows:

Begin by taking .25 milligrams (or 1/2 tablet) twice a week. After four weeks, increase the dose by .25 milligrams to .50 milligrams (or 1 tablet) twice a week. After four more weeks, increase the dose by .25 milligrams to .75 milligrams (or 1 1/2 tablets) twice a week. Finally, after four additional weeks, the dose can be increased to 1 milligram (or 2 tablets) twice a week. If side effects develop with a higher dose, the doctor may return to the previous dosage. If a patient's prolactin level remains normal for 6 months, a doctor may consider stopping treatment.

Cabergoline should not be interrupted without consulting a qualified endocrinologist.

Surgery
Surgery should be considered if medical therapy cannot be tolerated or if it fails to reduce prolactin levels, restore normal reproduction and pituitary function, and reduce tumor size. If medical therapy is only partially successful, this therapy should continue, possibly combined with surgery or radiation.

The results of surgery depend a great deal on tumor size and prolactin level as well as the skill and experience of the neurosurgeon. The higher the prolactin level, the lower the chance of normalizing serum prolactin. In the best medical centers, surgery corrects prolactin levels in 80 percent of patients with a serum prolactin less than 250 ng/ml. Even in patients with large tumors that cannot be completely removed, drug therapy may be able to return serum prolactin to the normal range after surgery. Depending on the size of the tumor and how much of it is removed, studies show that 20 to 50 percent will recur, usually within five years.  (+ info)

Prolactinoma. Does it inhibit oxytocin production?

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If a woman has prolactinoma, could it reduce the amount of oxytocin and prolong pregnancy? Specific and related advice or links welcomed.
I have no idea what you are talking about, but look at these websites. If you can read, you might be able to know... God knows I can't figure out any of this.
http://www.pituitaryadenomas.com/prolactinomas.htm
http://www.endotext.org/pregnancy/pregnancy2/pregnancy2a.htm
http://ca.geocities.com/chris_anthistle/prolactinoma/  (+ info)

help I have endometriosis, pcos & prolactinoma?

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Hi I am ttc and just had a miscarriage @ 6 weeks and was diagnosed with PCOS after dealing with endometriosis and prolactinoma for years. I am currantly taking progestrone clomid and bromocriptine. But was just prescriped metformin and am very concerned about taking it. will I have to continue taking it after I concieve? does any one else out there suffer from these same things?
any constructive advice would be helpful.
Thank you
  (+ info)

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