A Study on Prolactin Hormone and Female Infertility in National Hospital Abuja, Nigeria.

Abstract

Prolactin hormone is a polypeptide involved in the differenciation of normal mammary epithelium. Prolactin hormone has 200 amino acids, and it prepares the physiology of women for lactation and maternal care. Though, it is more important for the onset rather than the maintenance of maternal care. It exhibits a circadian variation whereby it is higher in the evenings. Previous scientific reports stated that Prolactin levels are higher in nulliparous women than in parous women, due to the fact that early first full term pregnancy causes a lowering of the level of circulating prolactin hormone. Hyperprolactinemia (abnormally high levels of prolactin) is a contributing factor to both female and male infertility. Especially cases of primary infertility. This present study was carried out to investigate the frequency of the prolactin levels among the infertile female patients in National hospital Abuja, and to analyse the difference in the prolactin levels between those suffering from primary infertility and those suffering from secondary infertility. The prolactin levels among female patients suffering primary infertility and secondary infertility were studied respectively and compared to the normal range of prolactin levels in nulliparous women. The prolactin levels of patients suffering primary infertility and secondary infertility were also compared. The result of this study suggested that a prolactin hormone abnormality was not a major contributory factor to the infertility problem suffered by most Female Infertility patients in National Hospital Abuja. Keyword: Female, Infertility, Prolactin hormone.