[Diagnostic value of the prolactin stimulation test in infertile women with galactorrhea]

In infertile women breast secretion may be provoked in approximately 11%, although basal prolactin serum levels are only elevated (greater than 12 ng/ml) in 30% of the cases. This casts doubt on the diagnostic value of a single determination of prolactin serum concentrations in women with galactorrhea and/or infertility. Introduction of a dynamic function test of prolactin secretion into the endocrine work-up of such patients improves our diagnostic tools as can be seen by the fact that approximately two thirds of the patients with galactorrhea exhibited an exaggerated response of prolactin to metoclopramide despite normal baseline levels of prolactin.