WOMENS-HEALTH Messages for March, 1997: Re: Amennorhea

Re: Amennorhea

From: Laurie (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Mon, 3 Mar 1997 07:40:55 -0600 (CST)

Messages sorted by: [ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]
Next message: Donna: "Thank you all for your help!"
Previous message: Laurie: "Re: Ovarian Failure Syndrome"
In reply to: Donna: "Amennorhea"

At Sun, 2 Mar 1997, Donna wrote: >
>I am a 36 year old female and have had two children. I have not had a
>period for seven months. I am sure I am not pregnant. I also have
>galactorhea (breast milk). Last child born seven years ago. I took
>progesterone about four months ago to "jump start" my period. It was
>unsuccessful and left me feeling pregnant for about two weeks!
>I have had all the standard blood work done, i.e. hormonal, progestron,
>prolacton, estrogen, thyroid etc. They all come back in the normal
>range! I am going to see a new doctor this month to try and solve this
>problem, can anybody suggest any further testing I should have done or
>give me a clue as to why this might be happening?
>
>Thank you,
>
>--
>Donna

Donna, galactorrhea (milky breast discharge remote from pregnancy or breastfeeding) is usually caused by an increase in prolactin. 30% of the time, however, the prolactin can be normal when measured. This can be due to elevated nocturnal peaks of prolactin that have resolved by the time you go in for the blood test, or to an inability of our lab tests to measure the prolactin in your blood (there are many different forms of prolactin). The fact that you had no bleeding in response to the progestin indicates a lack of estrogen and is consistent with an increase in your prolactin level. Prolactin release interferes with the stimulation of estrogen production. The upshot to all of this is that even with normal prolactin levels, galactorrhea usualy responds well to the treatment for increased prolactin! This should also result in resumption of normal menstrual function. If you decide against this treatment, you should strongly consider estrogen replacement in some form, since without it you are at risk of the osteoporosis, heart disease, etc. that can affect you in the menopause. >

--
Laurie Lovely, MD
RE fellow, UNC-Chapel Hill

Next message: Donna: "Thank you all for your help!"
Previous message: Laurie: "Re: Ovarian Failure Syndrome"
In reply to: Donna: "Amennorhea"

Women's Insurance Checklist from Auto Insurance Quote

use when must restrict search to only the women's health forum...
Enter search keywords:
	Returns per screen: Require all keywords: