[bittybaby]

I just got the results from my Prolactin test, and I now think I know what is causing my irregular menstrual cycles and secondary infertility. My prolactin levels are 57.8 and the normal range is 4.0 - 30.0!! I go in for another blood draw on Monday after fasting, and if it's still high, which I know it will be, then I have to have an MRI since high prolactin can mean a pituitary tumor.

I knew something wasn't right with my cycles, and now I know the reason for my irregular cycles and short luteal phase. Apparently high prolactin can be treated fairly easily with medication as long as the pituitary tumor isn't big enough to require surgery. High prolactin can cause infertility, which explains why I've been having menstrual cycle irregularities and a really short luteal phase. It's reassuring to know that the tumors are apparently always benign, and it's reassuring to finally have an answer when I knew something was obviously wrong.

I'm still really scared though. If anyone has any advice or info, I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks!

[HeidiColorado]

I don't have any advice but wanted to let you know you are in my thoughts - hope someone can reach out to you soon on this issue.

[bittybaby]

Originally Posted by HeidiColorado

I don't have any advice but wanted to let you know you are in my thoughts - hope someone can reach out to you soon on this issue.

Thanks Heidi. I appreciate your comment. Hopefully the MRI will show that if I do have a pituitary tumor, it's a small one. From everything I've read, it sounds like meds can correct the issue as long as I don't have a big pituitary tumor. At least I now know what's been causing my irregular menstrual cycles and short luteal phase.

Thanks again!

[Wishes4Two]

I'm sorry to hear this, but that is so good that you know what has caused your problems. I think that's half the battle right there. I hope you can get treated, have it resolved fast, and be on your way to another BFP Good luck to you!

[bittybaby]

Originally Posted by Wishes4Two

I'm sorry to hear this, but that is so good that you know what has caused your problems. I think that's half the battle right there. I hope you can get treated, have it resolved fast, and be on your way to another BFP Good luck to you!

Thank you so much! I'll keep you posted. Best of luck to you too!!

[Dee1983]

Originally Posted by Wishes4Two

I'm sorry to hear this, but that is so good that you know what has caused your problems. I think that's half the battle right there. I hope you can get treated, have it resolved fast, and be on your way to another BFP Good luck to you!

That's so true. My DH and I have been trying unsuccessfully for about 20 months but all the tests come back fine. It's frustrating when you don't know what to fix. Now you know what needs fixing you can formulate a plan of attack

[sadcanuck]

Hi:

I was diagnosed with high prolactin levels quite a while ago. And mine have come down a lot with medication, and are quite steady now. I have had MRIs, and they found what they call a "microadenoma", but I've been assured it is harmless, and mine has actually shrunk to the point they didn't see anything on the last MRI. Unfortunately, this doesn't mean I've carried a pregnancy to term (lost at 2 weeks and 7 weeks, but frankly, I've not responded well to treatment in general, and hubby has sperm issues to), but I have made progress at least with the prolactin levels.

I hope this helps reassure you a bit..

[bittybaby]

Originally Posted by sadcanuck

Hi:

I was diagnosed with high prolactin levels quite a while ago. And mine have come down a lot with medication, and are quite steady now. I have had MRIs, and they found what they call a "microadenoma", but I've been assured it is harmless, and mine has actually shrunk to the point they didn't see anything on the last MRI. Unfortunately, this doesn't mean I've carried a pregnancy to term (lost at 2 weeks and 7 weeks, but frankly, I've not responded well to treatment in general, and hubby has sperm issues to), but I have made progress at least with the prolactin levels.

I hope this helps reassure you a bit..

Thanks for the reassurance! I hope meds will help bring my prolactin levels down too. I will keep you posted. Thanks again!

[Metalwolf]

Originally Posted by bittybaby

I just got the results from my Prolactin test, and I now think I know what is causing my irregular menstrual cycles and secondary infertility. My prolactin levels are 57.8 and the normal range is 4.0 - 30.0!! I go in for another blood draw on Monday after fasting, and if it's still high, which I know it will be, then I have to have an MRI since high prolactin can mean a pituitary tumor.

I knew something wasn't right with my cycles, and now I know the reason for my irregular cycles and short luteal phase. Apparently high prolactin can be treated fairly easily with medication as long as the pituitary tumor isn't big enough to require surgery. High prolactin can cause infertility, which explains why I've been having menstrual cycle irregularities and a really short luteal phase. It's reassuring to know that the tumors are apparently always benign, and it's reassuring to finally have an answer when I knew something was obviously wrong.

I'm still really scared though. If anyone has any advice or info, I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks!

I had one of those. Fortunately it was small enough (a microadenoma) that it didn't need surgery. It went away after a time and I haven't had a sign of it since.

I did have mild lactation coming out of both breasts for a while when I had it and I did have to get the head x-rays, but it wasn't so bad as far as a tumor goes.

[gemipisces]

Originally Posted by bittybaby

I just got the results from my Prolactin test, and I now think I know what is causing my irregular menstrual cycles and secondary infertility. My prolactin levels are 57.8 and the normal range is 4.0 - 30.0!! I go in for another blood draw on Monday after fasting, and if it's still high, which I know it will be, then I have to have an MRI since high prolactin can mean a pituitary tumor.

I knew something wasn't right with my cycles, and now I know the reason for my irregular cycles and short luteal phase. Apparently high prolactin can be treated fairly easily with medication as long as the pituitary tumor isn't big enough to require surgery. High prolactin can cause infertility, which explains why I've been having menstrual cycle irregularities and a really short luteal phase. It's reassuring to know that the tumors are apparently always benign, and it's reassuring to finally have an answer when I knew something was obviously wrong.

I'm still really scared though. If anyone has any advice or info, I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks!

It's nice to know that you have began to find some anwers! I have a friend who does MRIs, and back whenever I was having migraines often she told me that after a woman has a child the pituitary gland can "change" for lack of a better word. She advised me to get an MRI, so it is definitely possible that that might be the case. And yes, most always they are benign. I hope you get even more answers soon! Let us know!

[bittybaby]

Thanks everyone for the reassuring comments! I'm not feeling too nervous about it anymore. It is definitely nice to have some answers about why my menstrual cycles have been so irregular and about why my luteal phase has only been 7-8 days long for the past 3 months.

One other positive thing is that my luteal phase seems to have increased by 1 day as of right now. Based on my previous 3 cycles, I was supposed to start spotting yesterday, and I was supposed to have full flow by today, but I haven't even started spotting yet. That is pretty good news since that means my luteal phase is at least longer by 1 day this cycle!! For a person with a 7-8 day luteal phase, even 1 extra day seems like a big accomplishment

Thanks again for all of the reassuring comments!

[Coffeegal1]

Hi Bitty - I don't know anything about your specific condition but I wanted you to know that I'm thinking of you and hoping that the diagnosis is a step in the right direction. Knowing the problem is more than half the battle. I'm glad you were able to get some answers and I hope that in workign with your doctors you will get healthy and can extend your family.

[bittybaby]

Originally Posted by Coffeegal1

Hi Bitty - I don't know anything about your specific condition but I wanted you to know that I'm thinking of you and hoping that the diagnosis is a step in the right direction. Knowing the problem is more than half the battle. I'm glad you were able to get some answers and I hope that in workign with your doctors you will get healthy and can extend your family.

Thanks so much! All of you ladies have been so kind and helpful! I went in for my second fasting prolactin blood draw today, so I will probably get the results by the end of this week. If the results are still high, then I will need an MRI, but I'm not too scared about the MRI anymore.

The strangest thing is that I am currently 9-10dpo. During my last 3 cycles, my luteal phase was only 7-8 days maximum (I am 99% certain about my ovulation dates during those cycles). I keep hoping and praying that I will get a BFP even though my previous 3 luteal phases were only 7-8 days long and my prolactin levels were elevated. I have never missed a period before except when I was pregnant with DD, so I hope that if I miss a period this cycle that it's because I'm pregnant. My temps are still up, my boobs are still sore, I was cramping for several days but the cramping has gotten much better today, and so far there has been no blood at all.

Even if AF does arrive, I will still be so happy that my luteal phase has increased this cycle, but a BFP would obviously make me a lot happier!!

I'll keep you all updated on my prolactin levels, my possible MRI, and my current cycle. My DH and I are praying for a BFP, but if it doesn't happen, at least my luteal phase has increased, and at least there seems to be an answer to my irregular cycles and short luteal phase.

Thanks again everyone for all of your support. I also wanted to let you know that I am keeping all of you in my thoughts and daily prayers.

[cmunksgard]

Originally Posted by bittybaby

Thanks so much! All of you ladies have been so kind and helpful! I went in for my second fasting prolactin blood draw today, so I will probably get the results by the end of this week. If the results are still high, then I will need an MRI, but I'm not too scared about the MRI anymore.

The strangest thing is that I am currently 9-10dpo. During my last 3 cycles, my luteal phase was only 7-8 days maximum (I am 99% certain about my ovulation dates during those cycles). I keep hoping and praying that I will get a BFP even though my previous 3 luteal phases were only 7-8 days long and my prolactin levels were elevated. I have never missed a period before except when I was pregnant with DD, so I hope that if I miss a period this cycle that it's because I'm pregnant. My temps are still up, my boobs are still sore, I was cramping for several days but the cramping has gotten much better today, and so far there has been no blood at all.

Even if AF does arrive, I will still be so happy that my luteal phase has increased this cycle, but a BFP would obviously make me a lot happier!!

I'll keep you all updated on my prolactin levels, my possible MRI, and my current cycle. My DH and I are praying for a BFP, but if it doesn't happen, at least my luteal phase has increased, and at least there seems to be an answer to my irregular cycles and short luteal phase.

Thanks again everyone for all of your support. I also wanted to let you know that I am keeping all of you in my thoughts and daily prayers.

for you!

[bittybaby]

Originally Posted by cmunksgard

for you!

Well Af has started today, but I'm really happy that my luteal phase has increased from 7-8 days to 9-10 days!! I know that's still not long enough, but it's better than it was the last 3 cycles (I'm about 99% certain about my luteal phases for all 4 cycles).

I'm still waiting to get the 2nd set of prolactin test results back, but I'm assuming they'll still be high. If they're still high, then I will get an MRI and probably be put on meds. Hopefully those meds will be able to quickly bring my prolactin levels down, and hopefully my menstrual cycles will become more regular and my luteal phase will lengthen even more!

One thing I'm concerned about is that I started having menstrual like cramps off and on everyday about 1 full week before AF started today (So I basically had AF like cramps off and on for a full week). Although my doctor doesn't seem to think I have an infection or Endo, I'm so concerned that I have endo since my mom had mild endo. Is it ever normal to have menstrual like cramps for a full week leading up to AF or does this sound abnormal (Advil or Tylenol always takes the cramps away). This 1 week cramping situation is new and started about 3 months ago. Any thoughts about that would be greatly appreciated!

Anyway, just thought I'd give a little update since I'm pretty excited about the increase in my luteal phase this cycle! I'll continue to update since I'm hoping my situation might be helpful to someone else out there.