- Symptoms of increased prolactin in men
- Causes of increased prolactin in men
- Prolactin examination for men
- Treatment to lower prolactin
Prolactin is a hormone that, despite being responsible for the production of breast milk, in men, has other functions, such as relaxing the body after reaching orgasm, for example.
Normal levels of prolactin in men are less than 10 to 15 ng / mL, but it can reach much higher values due to illness, use of drugs that have this side effect, or due to a tumor in the brain.
Symptoms of increased prolactin in men
The outlet of milk through the man's nipple, may be present in some cases, and can be observed when the doctor presses the darker region of the breast. Other symptoms are:
- Decreased sexual desire; Sexual impotence; Decreased sperm count; Decreased testosterone levels; Increased breasts and milk secretion can rarely occur.
Other less common signs and symptoms are headache, changes in vision due to atrophy of the optic nerve and paralysis of cranial nerves, which are more frequent in men than in women, probably because in men the tumors are generally larger than in women.
Causes of increased prolactin in men
Some examples of remedies that lead to an increase in male prolactin are:
- Antidepressants: alprazolam, fluoxetine, paroxetine; Epilepsy remedies: haloperidol, risperidone, chlorpromazine; Stomach and nausea remedies: cimetidine and ranitidine; metoclopramide, domperidone and cisapride; High blood pressure medications: reserpine, verapamil, methyldopa, atenolol.
In addition to drugs, pituitary tumors, called prolactinomas, can also cause an increase in prolactin in the blood. Diseases such as sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, aneurysm and radiotherapy to the head may also be involved, as well as kidney failure, liver cirrhosis and hypothyroidism.
Prolactin examination for men
In men, prolactin values should be a maximum of 20 ng / mL, and the higher this value, the greater the risk of a tumor, called prolactinoma.
When observing this increase in the blood test the doctor can order imaging tests to better evaluate the gland. Tests that can also be ordered are X-rays of the head and Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
Treatment to lower prolactin
Treatment is indicated to combat infertility, sexual problems and strengthen bones. For this it may be necessary to take medications such as Bromocriptine and Cabergoline (lisuride, pergolide, quinagolide).
Surgery is indicated to remove the tumor, when it is large or is increasing in size. Radiotherapy is not always indicated because the success rate is not very high.
The exam should be repeated every 2 or 3 months in the first year of treatment, and then every 6 months or year after year, as the endocrinologist prefers.
