Serum prolactin levels in infertile patients with endometriosis

Raised prolactin levels have been implicated as a cause for infertility in patients with endometriosis. This study was done to investigate if serum prolactin levels were significantly raised in infertile patients with endometriosis. Serum prolactin levels were studied in 43 infertile patients with endometriosis. For controls, 36 infertile patients with normal pelvic findings were used. For standardization, blood samples were drawn on day 21 of the menstrual cycle. Analysis was done by radioimmunoassay using reagent kits. The mean prolactin level in the endometriotic group was 372 mIU/l (range 187-752) while that in the controls was 333 mIU/l.(range 124-767). There was no statistical difference (t = 1.12). Furthermore the accepted normal level for serum prolactin in our population is less than 540 mIU/l. These results show that there is no evidence to implicate raised prolactin levels as a cause for infertility in patients with endometriosis.