What is the relationship between hyperprolactinemia and amenorrhea?

Hyperprolactinemia is the most common pituitary disease , with galactorrhea and hypogonadism as prominent manifestations . Female patients may have decreased libido and loss of sexual desire . Hyperprolactinemia refers to a syndrome caused by internal and external environmental factors , characterized by elevated prolactin (PRL) (>25ng/ml), amenorrhea, galactorrhea, anovulation and infertility . From the perspective of pathological changes , it can be divided into tumor-induced hyperprolactinemia , postpartum hyperprolactinemia , idiopathic hyperprolactinemia , and iatrogenic hyperprolactinemia . The clinical characteristics are as follows: The main features are amenorrhea , infertility and galactorrhea .

The incidence of hyperprolactinemia in normal adults is 0.4%, mostly occurring in women , and occasionally in children and adolescents . In the past , women with amenorrhea and galactorrhea were diagnosed as amenorrhea - galactorrhea syndrome . It was not until 1970 that Frantz et al. proved the existence of prolactin active substances in human blood . In 1971 , Hwang et al. developed a radioimmunoassay method for prolactin (PRL) . It is now known that this syndrome is caused by hyperprolactinemia . Hyperprolactinemia is an endocrine disease caused by hypothalamic - pituitary disorders , the most common cause of which is excessive secretion of prolactin (PRL) by pituitary prolactinoma. Elevated serum PRL causes ovarian dysfunction in women, resulting in amenorrhea, galactorrhea and infertility . Therefore , hyperprolactinemia is now a difficult disease that obstetricians and gynecologists pay attention to . According to the clinical manifestations of hyperprolactinemia , Chinese medicine classifies it as " lactosis " and " amenorrhea " .