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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffThe signs and symptoms of prolactinoma result from excessive prolactin in your blood (hyperprolactinemia) and, if the tumor is large, from the pressure of the tumor on surrounding tissues. Because elevated levels of the hormone prolactin cause disruption of the reproductive system (hypogonadism), some of the signs and symptoms of prolactinoma are unique for each sex.
In some cases, there aren't any signs and symptoms. But when there are, prolactinoma symptoms may include:
In females
- Irregular menstrual periods (oligomenorrhea) or lack of menstrual periods (amenorrhea)
- Milky discharge from the breasts (galactorrhea) when not pregnant or breast-feeding
- Painful intercourse due to vaginal dryness
- Low bone density
In males
- Erectile dysfunction (ED)
- Uncommonly, enlarged breasts (gynecomastia)
In both
- Reduced hormone production by the pituitary gland (hypopituitarism) as a result of tumor pressure
- Loss of interest in sexual activity
- Headaches
- Visual disturbances
- Infertility
Women tend to notice signs and symptoms earlier than men do, when tumors are smaller in size, probably because they're alerted that there might be a problem due to missed or irregular menstrual periods. Men, on the other hand, tend to notice signs and symptoms later, when tumors are much larger and more likely to cause headache or vision problems.
