Experience with bromocriptine for the treatment of female infertility due to hyperprolactinemia

From July 1981 to September 1988, 106 infertile patients with hyperprolactinemia treated with bromocriptine were reviewed retrospectively with special attention to the dosage of bromocriptine and the evaluation of infertility before treatment. 84 patients (79.2%) became pregnant. The 106 patients were divided into 3 groups according to the following doses: 7.5, 5.0, and less than 5.0 mg/day. The pregnancy rate was 90.7%, 84.6%, and 66.7% respectively with the highest at 7.5 mg/day, which was significantly higher than that at less than 5.0 mg/day (P less than 0.02). The average duration from treatment to pregnancy was 3.6, 3.4 and 7.4 months respectively. The longest duration in the less than 5 mg/day group was twice that in the other two groups. 85% of the pregnancies occurred within 6 months of treatment. Pretreatment of organic lesions and additional therapy for induction of ovulation were given to 29.8% of the pregnancies. The causes of infertility other than hyperprolactinemia were evaluated systemically before the use of bromocriptine. The optimal dose was 5-7.5 mg/day. Macroprolactinomas can be treated with bromocriptine, but should be followed up closely for the development of symptoms of intracranial pressure during pregnancy.