Prolactin changes

Prolactin Changes

After the birth of the baby, the secretion of pituitary hormone prolactin stimulates breast milk production. During its period of greatest secretion, prolactin inhibits the intermittent release of GnRH. This prevents ovulation and causes the period of sub-fertility following the birth of normal babies.

Overproduction of prolactin outside the lactation period, usually due to the presence of a benign tumour of the pituitary secreting prolactin, is a cause of Subfertility. Because GnRH is inhibited, the pituitary does not secrete LH and FSH in the normal way. This means that there is no follicular development or ovulation and no period. The signs of hyperprolactinemia are amenorrhea and galactorrhea (spontaneous leakage of milk from the breast) and the condition is confirmed by the determination of circulating levels of prolactin..

Last updated: 10/02/2012