Mild hyperprolactinemia in a couple: What impact on fertility?

Abstract

Mild-to-moderate hyperprolactinemia is a frequent finding in young women presenting with infertility. Prolactin (PRL) concentration should be determined accurately, whether or not the patient has other symptoms suggestive of excess PRL such as galactorrhea or menstrual cycle disorder. After confirmation of persistent hyperprolactinemia on a second blood sample (avoiding conditions known to raise prolactin) and exclusion of macroprolactinemia, prolactinoma and other identifiable non-tumoral causes of hyperprolactinemia must be ruled out. Mildly elevated PRL levels may cause luteal insufficiency in cycling women and are associated with recurrent miscarriage. Any confirmed hyperprolactinemia should be treated in a woman who wishes or fails to become pregnant. Preference is given to cabergoline at the lowest possible dose that normalizes PRL, restoring fertility in the vast majority of cases.Evidence is much less robust in men, in whom PRL concentrations are less prone to increase and the reproductive system is less sensitive to the negative effects of hyperprolactinemia. Nevertheless, chronic and significant hyperprolactinemia in men may impair fertility or cause infertility (with or without hypogonadism) and must be treated, as in women. However, more clinical studies are clearly needed concerning male reproductive function.The significance of mild but persistent hyperprolactinemia in either member of a couple incidentally discovered during assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures is unclear, and future evidence-based studies are needed to determine whether normalizing prolactin can improve ART outcome.