What is a prolactinoma?
The pituitary gland is a pea-sized structure situated behind the root of the nose and attached to the bottom of the brain. It makes a series of chemical substances (called hormones) which are released into the blood circulation. From here, the hormones have their effects on different organs and tissues. One of these hormones is called prolactin. It is responsible for stimulating milk production in women for breast-feeding their baby. Prolactin is normally produced in small quantities in non-pregnant females as well as in males, in whom prolactin probably has no function. The production is much higher during breast-feeding. A prolactinoma is a benign (non-cancerous) tumour or growth in the pituitary gland. It produces much more prolactin than normal. The bigger the tumour, the more prolactin it tends to make. Sometimes the tumour may grow as large as a bird’s egg. The high level of prolactin may produce breast milk even in women who have never been pregnant. This is called galactorrhoea
* What Is the Pituitary Gland? * How Common Is Prolactinoma? * What Causes Prolactinoma? * What Are the Symptoms? * What Else Causes Prolactin To Rise? * How is Prolactinoma Diagnosed? * How Is Prolactinoma Treated? * How Does Prolactinoma Effect Pregnancy and Oral Contraceptives? * Is Osteoporosis a Risk in Women with High Prolactin Levels? * What Other Resources Are Available? What Is a Prolactinoma? A prolactinoma is a benign tumor of the pituitary gland that produces a hormone called prolactin. It is the most common type of pituitary tumor. Symptoms of prolactinoma are caused by too much prolactin in the blood (hyperprolactinemia) or by pressure of the tumor on surrounding tissues. Prolactin stimulates the breast to produce milk during pregnancy. After delivery of the baby, a mother’s prolactin levels fall unless she breast feeds her infant. Each time the baby nurses, prolactin levels rise to maintain milk production. What Is the Pituitary Gland? The pituitary gland, sometimes call
A prolactinoma is a benign tumor of the pituitary gland that produces a hormone called prolactin. It is the most common type of pituitary tumor. Symptoms of prolactinoma are caused by too much prolactin in the blood (hyperprolactinemia) or by pressure of the tumor on surrounding tissues. Prolactin stimulates the breast to produce milk during pregnancy. After delivery of the baby, a mother’s prolactin levels fall unless she breast feeds her infant. Each time the baby nurses, prolactin levels rise to maintain milk production.
It must be very worrying to have been diagnosed with a prolactinoma, please allow me to explain things for you. A previous answer of mine summarises some facts around prolactinoma and can be read here.
