The pituitary hormone prolactin is associated with the gender system and the reproductive function of the body. The development of some pathological conditions of the mammary glands depends on the level of prolactin.
Galactorrhoea - what is it?
In medical practice, a hormonal disorder caused by an increased concentration of prolactin in the blood and accompanied by the secretion of breast milk in men or women outside the lactation period is defined as galactorrhea. The reasons causing such a condition can be:
- tumor in the pituitary gland (prolactinoma);
- chronic pathologies of the liver or kidneys;
- hypothyroidism (dysfunction of the thyroid gland);
- use of certain medicines (for example, psychotropic drugs, hormonal contraceptives, blood pressure-lowering drugs, narcotic substances);
- inflammatory processes in glandular tissue (mastitis);
- different types of mastopathy;
- neurogenic disorders.
With an unknown cause (about 50% of cases), idiopathic galactorrhea is diagnosed.
Symptoms of galactorrhea
As a rule, when galactorrhea develops, the symptom that defines it may be the only one - pathological secretion of milk. The color of this liquid varies from pale yellow to greenish. There are three degrees of severity of galactorrhea - droplet, stream secretion when pressed and its involuntary termination. At the same time, only one mammary gland (unilateral form) or both (bilateral) can participate in the process. Additional symptoms that accompany the pathology may be:
- headache;
- deterioration of peripheral vision;
- disruption of the menstrual cycle in women;
- erectile dysfunction in men;
- acne;
- problems with conception.
Treatment of galactorrhea
Due to the fact that galactorrhea is not an independent disease, but only one of the manifestations of an existing pathology, its treatment depends on the cause that caused abnormal lactation. Therefore, accurate diagnosis is extremely important. For this purpose, in addition to an examination by a mammologist, an additional examination by an endocrinologist, ophthalmologist, gynecologist, etc. may be necessary. D. In each individual case, it is possible to prescribe laboratory tests:
- X-ray, CT or MRI of the brain;
- mammography;
- determining the level of hormones in the blood (prolactin, thyroid);
- ophthalmoscopy.
Basically, drug treatment is reduced to prescribing a drug regimen to reduce the secretion of prolactin in the pituitary gland. Endocrine pathology is eliminated with the help of further correction of hormonal imbalance. If a neoplasm is detected, surgery or radiation therapy may be offered.
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