HYPERPROLACTINEMIA IN A TRANSGENDER MALE.

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Transgender Health
• Reproductive Medicine

Background:

• Hyperprolactinemia, characterized by elevated prolactin levels, can have diverse etiologies.
• Transgender individuals undergoing gender-affirming hormone therapy may present with unique clinical scenarios.

Observation:

• A 29-year-old transgender male on testosterone therapy presented with elevated prolactin levels.
• Initial investigations, including pituitary MRI, were unremarkable.
• The patient was using a tight breast binder prior to mastectomy.

Findings:

• Prolactin levels normalized post-mastectomy.
• This suggests that external pressure from breast binding may have caused the hyperprolactinemia.
• This is the first reported case linking breast binding to elevated prolactin.

Implications:

• Breast binding should be considered as a potential cause of hyperprolactinemia in transgender males.
• Clinicians should consider unique etiologies when evaluating endocrine abnormalities in transgender populations.
• This case broadens the differential diagnosis for hyperprolactinemia.