[Levels of estradiol, progesterone and testosterone in hyperprolactinemia]

In 69 patients with hyperprolactinemia the concentrations of FSH (foliculostimulating) hormone, LH (luteinization) hormone, PRL (prolactin), PRG (progesterone), T (testosterone) and E2 (estradiol) were determined by the RIA method on the 7th, 14th, and 21st day following the beginning of spontaneous or induced uterine bleeding. According to the recorded E2 and PRG concentrations, all the patients were divided into three groups: one group with the E2 and PRG concentrations within normal ovulation cycle values (N = 31); the second group with the E2 concentrations within normal values and the PRG values characteristic of the 21st day (N = 18), and the third group with the E2 concentrations below the lower normal values on the 7th and the 14th day and the PRG anovulation concentrations on the 21st day (N = 20). The mean values of the E2 concentrations in the hyperprolactinemic patients were significantly lower in all the three control groups (P less than 0.01; 0.05; 0.01) on the 7th day and (P less than 0.01; 0.05; 0.001) on the 14th day, which suggests the impairment of the follicular phase of the cycle. In the second and third groups there was no significant difference between the E2 concentrations on the 7th and the 14th day, while the PRG concentrations on the 21st day remained on the level of the anovulation values. Unlike the control group, the patients with hyperprolactinemia showed no significant increase of the Lh concentration on the 14th day. The effect of hyperprolactinemia on the impairment of the ovarian function is discussed.