Hyperprolactinaemia means the increased production of the hormone prolactin. Prolactin is produced by normal male and female individuals and is normally increased after birth when it stimulates the breasts to produce milk.

Increased production of prolactin at other times may lead to infertility or miscarriage due to suppression of ovulation or a decrease in the progesterone hormone.

If the prolactin levels are markedly elevated, milk production by the breasts may occur in the absence of pregnancy.

CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS

1. Stress - both physical and emotional

2. Certain medical drugs such as antidepressants, tranquillisers, antihistamines and anti-nausea agents.

3. An underactive thyroid gland

4. A tumour of the pituitary gland in the brain called a "prolactinoma".

TREATMENT

1. Stress, the drugs known to cause high prolactin levels and an inactive thyroid gland have to be excluded and dealt with.

2. If prolactin levels are very high a pituitary tumour must be excluded by specialised X-ray examination of the brain.

3. Your doctor may prescribe one of the prolactin lowering drugs. Most of them, however, have undesirable side-effects and they have to be discontinued once a pregnancy is established.