Hyperprolactinemia detected after pregnancy

Hyperprolactinemia is a disease that occurs in both men and women. It can cause infertility, so it has been troubling many people for a long time. Its occurrence has caused serious impacts on people's physical and mental health and normal life. Therefore, when hyperprolactinemia occurs, scientific and reasonable methods should be taken in time to treat it. So, why does hyperprolactinemia cause infertility? The following is a detailed introduction.

Prolactin is a polypeptide hormone, also called prolactin, which is one of the hormones secreted by the pituitary gland. Women secrete prolactin vigorously in the late pregnancy and lactation period to promote breast development and lactation. The highest level of prolactin in the serum of non-pregnant women generally does not exceed 20 ng/ml. The secretion of prolactin is pulsatile and varies greatly throughout the day. The pulse amplitude of prolactin secretion increases rapidly within 1 hour of sleep, and then the secretion level is maintained at a high level during sleep, and begins to decline after waking up. The serum prolactin secretion concentration at 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning is twice that of noon.

The secretion of prolactin is affected by many factors. In addition, drugs such as progesterone, dexamethasone, adrenal cortisol, and acute stress such as strenuous physical activity and trauma can cause increased secretion of prolactin.

The main function of prolactin is to promote breast development and the formation of milk. Of course, it is mainly to prepare for childbirth and breastfeeding. It is normal for prolactin levels to be high during pregnancy. If prolactin levels are still high under normal circumstances, it will affect the function of the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and ovarian axis, causing abnormal ovulatory function and no ovulation, which can lead to female infertility and then amenorrhea.

Increased prolactin can significantly inhibit the normal secretion of pituitary gonadotropins (such as follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone), affecting the normal development of follicles, ovulation function and pregnancy function. Reduced follicle-stimulating hormone secretion will directly lead to developmental disorders of ovarian follicles, weak or incomplete development (B-ultrasound observation shows follicles with a diameter of less than 18 mm or less), and ultimately inability to conceive; while insufficient secretion of progesterone (luteinizing hormone) causes luteal dysfunction, making it difficult to maintain the fertilized follicles to continue implantation and development (such as testing the basal body temperature shows a low temperature phase below 36.8°C), making it difficult to get pregnant, and even if pregnancy occurs, miscarriage is likely to occur.