When your body makes too much hyperprolactinemia, a condition where the hormone prolactin is produced in excess. Also known as elevated prolactin, it can mess with your sex drive, period, and even cause milk production when you’re not pregnant or nursing. This isn’t just a women’s issue—men get it too, often without realizing why they’re losing energy, libido, or even growing breast tissue.
Most of the time, prolactin, a hormone made by the pituitary gland that controls milk production and reproductive function. Also known as lactogenic hormone, it plays a key role in fertility and breast development spikes because of a harmless bump on the pituitary gland called a prolactinoma. But it can also come from stress, certain meds like antidepressants or antipsychotics, kidney problems, or even hypothyroidism. If your doctor finds high prolactin, they’ll check your thyroid, run a brain scan, and ask about everything you’re taking—because sometimes the fix is as simple as switching a pill.
Left untreated, hormonal imbalance, a disruption in the normal levels of hormones that regulate bodily functions. Also known as endocrine disorder, it can lead to bone loss, infertility, or long-term effects on your mood and metabolism can wear you down. Women might stop getting periods. Men might struggle with erections or feel depressed. Both can lose bone density over time, increasing fracture risk. The good news? Most cases respond well to dopamine agonists, medications that mimic dopamine to reduce prolactin production. Also known as prolactin-lowering drugs, they include cabergoline and bromocriptine—both proven to shrink tumors and restore normal hormone levels in most patients. You don’t always need surgery. Many people take a small pill once or twice a week and get back to normal.
What you’ll find below aren’t just generic articles. These are real, practical guides from people who’ve been there—whether it’s understanding why your period vanished, how to tell if your medication is the culprit, or what to expect when you start treatment. Some posts compare how different drugs work. Others break down how hyperprolactinemia connects to other conditions like thyroid disease or depression. You’ll see what works, what doesn’t, and what your doctor might not tell you unless you ask.
A detailed comparison of Dostinex (cabergoline) with bromocriptine, quinagolide, and pergolide, covering how they work, side effects, costs, and how to choose the right option.
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