The efficacy of bromocriptine in patients with ovulatory dysfunction and normoprolactinemic galactorrhea

The response to bromocriptine therapy of 12 infertile women with ovulatory dysfunction and euprolactinemic galactorrhea was studied. Four of the subjects had anovulation, four had oligo-ovulation, and four had delayed ovulation. Serum PRL levels in all 12 subjects were less than 20 ng/ml. Normal ovulation occurred at least once in all of the patients on bromocriptine therapy and in 38 of 41 (92%) of the cycles. Seven patients (58%) conceived promptly with bromocriptine therapy, and all subjects had cessation of galactorrhea within 1 month of the onset of therapy. The seven pregnancies included five normal term vaginal deliveries, one premature vaginal delivery, and one tubal pregnancy. The results of this study should be considered preliminary but suggest that the presence of euprolactinemic galactorrhea in patients with ovulatory dysfunction may still represent a covert disorder of PRL physiologic factors. The prompt correction of these ovulation disturbances gives supporting evidence for this hypothesis and suggests that a short trial of bromocriptine therapy may be warranted after minimal blood sampling. The differential outcome between our group of patients produces further evidence that variable mechanisms may be operative.