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Medical Author:

Robert Ferry Jr., MD

Robert Ferry Jr., MD

Robert Ferry Jr., MD, is a U.S. board-certified Pediatric Endocrinologist. After taking his baccalaureate degree from Yale College, receiving his doctoral degree and residency training in pediatrics at University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA), he completed fellowship training in pediatric endocrinology at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

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Medical Editor:

Ruchi Mathur, MD, FRCP(C)

Ruchi Mathur, MD, FRCP(C)

Ruchi Mathur, MD, FRCP(C) is an Attending Physician with the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism and Associate Director of Clinical Research, Recruitment and Phenotyping with the Center for Androgen Related Disorders, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

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In this Article

• What is a prolactinoma (pituitary tumor)?
• What is the normal function of prolactin?
• What is the pituitary gland?
• Where is the pituitary gland located?
• What problems are caused by a pituitary tumor?
• How common is a prolactinoma?
• What are the types of prolactinomas?
• What causes a prolactinoma?
• What symptoms are caused by a prolactinoma?
• Aside from a prolactinoma, what else can cause prolactin levels to rise?
• How is a prolactinoma diagnosed?
• What follow-up tests are done after a prolactinoma diagnosis?
• What are the goals of treatment of a prolactinoma?
• How is a prolactinoma treated?
• What medications are used to treat prolactinomas?
• What is the surgical treatment of a prolactinoma?
• How do I choose a skilled neurosurgeon?
• Does a prolactinoma affect pregnancy and oral contraceptives?
• Do prolactinomas affect oral contraceptives?
• Is osteoporosis a risk in women with high prolactin levels?
• Prolactinoma At A Glance
• Patient Comments: Prolactinoma - Symptoms
• Patient Comments: Prolactinoma - Share Your Experience
• Find a local Endocrinologist in your town
• Prolactinoma Index

In some people, high blood levels of prolactin can be traced to causes other than a prolactinoma. Other causes include:

• Prescription drugs: Prolactin secretion in the pituitary is normally suppressed by the brain chemical, dopamine. Drugs that block the effects of dopamine at the pituitary or deplete dopamine stores in the brain may cause the pituitary to secrete prolactin. These drugs include the major tranquilizers trifluoperazine (Stelazine) and haloperidol (Haldol); metoclopramide (Reglan) used to treat gastroesophageal reflux and the nausea caused by certain cancer drugs; and less often, alpha methyldopa and reserpine (Harmonyl) used to control hypertension.

• Other pituitary tumors: Other tumors may block the flow of dopamine from the brain, which normally inhibits its prolactin-secreting cells. Such so-called "mixed" tumors arise in or near the pituitary, and include those that release excessive growth hormone (acromegaly) or stimulate cortisol production (Cushing's syndrome). These can also cause the pituitary to secrete more prolactin.

• Some nonpituitary tumors: Prolactin secretion can also be caused by certain cancers, such as lung cancer.

• Hypothyroidism: Increased prolactin levels are often seen in people with hypothyroidism, and doctors routinely test people with hyperprolactinemia for hypothyroidism.

• Breast stimulation can modestly increase the amount of prolactin in the blood.

• Chest wall trauma (for example, an injury from a car steering wheel after an accident) can lead to increased levels of prolactin.

• Marijuana use is also a well documented cause of elevated levels of prolactin.