Serum-prolactin in female infertility

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Endocrinology
• Clinical Chemistry

Background:

• Hyperprolactinemia, elevated serum prolactin, is a potential factor in female infertility.
• The diagnostic utility and clinical significance of serum prolactin levels in infertile women require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the prevalence of elevated serum prolactin in new female patients at an infertility clinic.
• To investigate the correlation between serum prolactin levels and various clinical factors in infertile women.
• To clarify the role of serum prolactin estimations in the management of female infertility.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study of 100 new female patients attending an infertility clinic.
• Measurement of serum prolactin concentrations using radioimmunoassay.
• Correlation analysis between serum prolactin levels and clinical parameters (age, infertility duration, reproductive history, menstrual pattern, oral contraceptive use, pregnancy rate).

Main Results:

• 55% of new female infertility patients presented with serum prolactin concentrations above the normal limit (360 mU/l).
• No significant correlation was observed between serum prolactin values and clinical features such as age, duration of infertility, reproductive history, menstrual pattern, prior oral contraceptive use, or treatment-related pregnancy rates.
• The precision of current radioimmunoassays for serum prolactin is noted as questionable.

Conclusions:

• Elevated serum prolactin is common in women presenting to infertility clinics.
• The routine clinical utility of serum prolactin testing in infertile women remains uncertain due to lack of correlation with clinical factors and assay precision issues.
• Serum prolactin measurements are valuable for identifying patients requiring further investigation for pituitary tumors and for selecting candidates for bromocriptine therapy.