Prolactin levels in infertility and bromocriptine therapy in hyperprolactinaemia

Serum prolactin levels were estimated in 100 infertile patients along with the other investigations for infertility. Hyperprolactinaemia was noted in 41% of the infertile patients. Prevalence of hyperprolactinaemia was greater in patients with ovulatory cycles ie, 55% compared to 31.66% in patients with anovulatory and oligo-ovulatory cycles. Fifty per cent of the patients with regular menses had hyperprolactinaemia. Conception occurred in 9 out of 18 hyperprolactinaemic infertile patients (a pregnancy rate of 50%) treated with bromocriptine. Eleven patients (group 1) were treated with bromocriptine from day 5 to day 30 throughout the menstrual cycle and 5 conceptions occurred. Six patients (group 2) with ovulatory cycles were treated with bromocriptine during the luteal phase, from the day of ovulation till next menses and 4 conceived. One patient of prolactinoma treated with bromocriptine failed to conceive. Bromocriptine therapy restricted to the luteal phase in ovulatory patients has yielded successful results. Based on these observations it is suggested that all patients of infertility need serum prolactin estimation.