gozal, thanks for sharing your experience. In women with a prolactinoma, what does happen as far as LAM is concerned? Do they get their period back at all before weaning? Does it come back naturally? I assume from the name of the tumor that it is related to the milk-making hormone prolactin? Can you tell me more about that?
That's correct, a prolactinoma is a type of "active" benign pituitary adenoma that secretes prolactin. They can affect both men and women, and are more commonly discovered in women while small (under 1cm) due to the tumor's disruption of menstrual cycles. There are other "active" pituitary tumors that secrete other pituitary hormones, I believe, but are less common, and most pituitary tumors are inactive/asymptomatic. Small and inactive pituitary tumors are not uncommon, but active ones that result in infertility, like mine, are rare. The medication that corrects the problem basically acts by disrupting the out-of-control communication between the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is "told" to stop producing prolactin which then shrinks the tumor. Not all women who have a prolactinoma will have amenorrhea. Some will have regular cycles but not be able to conceive. Some will have galactorrhea and some won't.
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I imagine that for women, like me, who develop a prolactinoma during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, some could get their period back naturally (but be subfertile). Personally, I did not ever get a period while breastfeeding or after weaning. Until I reached the correct dosage of medication, I did not have a cycle. Before March of this year (2011), my LMP was back in 2006 (yes, you read that right - before my first pregnancy, with none in between). If I did not have access to medical care and medication, I would be infertile for the rest of my life. With the medication, I have the same fertility as any other healthy woman my age (since I do not have any other underlying conditions). I'm grateful to be living in a time and place where I can get this medication! I cannot believe my OB did not take me seriously throughout all that time and am happy I found a great RE to work with.
