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Prolactin secretion in endometriotic patients
T Machida1, M Taga, H Minaguchi
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yokohama City University, School of Medicine, Japan.
Summary
Hyperprolactinemia, indicated by elevated prolactin (PRL) levels after TRH stimulation, may contribute to infertility in women with endometriosis. Basal PRL levels did not correlate with endometriosis severity or treatment success.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Endocrinology
- Gynecology
Background:
- Endometriosis is a condition affecting women of reproductive age.
- Infertility is a common complication of endometriosis.
- The role of hyperprolactinemia in endometriosis-associated infertility requires further clarification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between prolactin (PRL) levels and infertility in patients with endometriosis.
- To determine if PRL levels correlate with endometriosis staging or treatment outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Serum PRL concentrations were measured using radioimmunoassay in 70 endometriotic patients before and 30 minutes after thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) injection.
- PRL levels were analyzed in relation to the Revised American Fertility Society (AFS) score and treatment outcomes for infertility.
Main Results:
- No significant correlation was found between basal PRL levels and endometriosis stage or infertility treatment success.
- PRL levels measured 30 minutes after TRH injection were significantly higher in patients who did not achieve pregnancy compared to those who did (P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- Occult hyperprolactinemia, suggested by an exaggerated PRL response to TRH, may play a role in the infertility experienced by patients with endometriosis.
- TRH-stimulated PRL testing may be a valuable diagnostic tool for identifying a potential cause of infertility in endometriotic patients.