Menstrual pattern and ovarian function in women with hyperprolactinemia

Prolactin (PRL) and progesterone were systematically measured in all women presenting with amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea or galactorrhea at the Infertility Clinic of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, State University of Campinas, Brazil, during a period of 34 months. The same hormonal assays were done to all infertile patients presenting for the first time during the last 6 months of the same period, for a total of 190 subjects. Fifty-five patients with amenorrhea, 38 with oligomenorrhea and 97 with normal cycles, 20 of whom had galactorrhea, were included in the study. Fifty-five percent of amenorrheic patients, 37% of oligomenorrheic and 9% of those with normal menses had elevated PRL. The mean PRL was higher the greater the menstrual disturbance but was not influenced by presence or absence of galactorrhea. Short luteal phase was the ovarian function condition most frequently associated with high PRL among women with normal menses.