What is Prolactinoma
A prolactinoma is a benign tumor of the pituitary gland that produces a hormone called prolactin. It is the most common type of pituitary tumor. Symptoms of prolactinoma are caused...
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Prolactinoma and Oral Contraceptives
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Hi All, I am new here and so glad this group exists. Have any of you ever wondered if your prolactinoma could be caused by taking oral contraceptives? I am questioning that they may be causing mine. Here is some background.
*Had a miscarriage in 2004 *Started taking oral contraceptives in 2005 *Felt "off" late 2006. Had a slightly elevated prolactin level and MRI showed tiny prolactinoma. *I quit taking oral contraceptives and my prolactin level soon went back into the normal range with no meds and a second MRI showed no tumor. *I got pregnant in 2007 and had a baby in early 2008. *November of 2008 I quit breastfeeding and went back on oral contraceptives. Until then my period was normal, within a month of starting back on OC, my period more or less disappeared. Recently I felt a little "off" maybe with some blurry vision and occasional head aches and decided to check the boobs...sure enough, I can express milk! I had bloodwork today and will have an MRI on Saturday. I just know the tumor is back and I really feel that it could be caused by the oral contraceptives. I would love to hear your stories and see if any of you have had similar experiences with a prolactinoma occuring shortly after taking the pill. I was planning on discontinuing use of the pill this month so I can get pregnant...guess that will have to wait :( I will still discontinue use of the pill and see if the tumor shrinks on its own again...I would think that would be a pretty good indication that the pill is my problem if the same thing happens twice. Let me know what you think! Posted on 06/17/09, 02:06 pm |
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Hello! That's intersting that it seems your prolactinoma is triggered by taking the pill...I've never heard of that. I can confidently say that the pill had/has nothing to do with my prolactinoma, as my tumor and levels were high without ever taking the pill. 
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Hi i had been on the pill for about 1 year before i was diagnosed with a prolactinoma. I have wondered if the pill might have caused it. After reading your post i am definately going to go off the pill and see if i can go off the medication... and see if it stays shrunk. Just curious what pill were you taking???
Cheers
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I had one doctor tell me that it might be cause by a sudden stopping of the Pill. It throws the hormone balance off.
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Well, I got normal results back from the MRI and bloodwork, so I guess a prolactinoma is not causing my new issues. I read the side effects from my birth control (Loestrin 24 Fe) and it lists nipple discharge as a possible side effect. I am still going to see a different endocrinologist. The pill I had been on in the past was Ovcon, I think it was orthotricyclin based. This makes me wonder if oral contraceptives are worth all the effects they have on your body...
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I was recently diagnosed with a prolactinoma and had been on the pill (Orthotricyclen Lo) for about 6 to 7 years previously. I stopped taking it in February of 2009, and have not gotten my period since. Upon first going to my gynocologist, I asked him if the birth control pills I was on could have anything to do with this. He took no time at all to tell me "absolutely not", but I have been skeptical ever since. It makes me furious that doctors prescribe BCP without fully knowing and/or explaining the side effects of being on or off them. It makes complete sense that they could effect your pituitary gland and cause a prolactinoma. BCP are directly related to the pituitary gland and supposedly cause side effects when being stopped after so long. How long were you taking BCP? What kind were you on? I have been trying to research this for weeks and your post was the first that lead me to believe that I was not the only one.
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I had only been taking BCP for 1 to 2 years before I was diagnosed with the prolactinoma. I think I was on Ovcon when I started having problems. About 4 months after I started the BCP I lost my period. I tried multiple different BCP and finally my period returned. I also experienced heart palpitations which seemed to be caused by hormones. The gynecologist/endocrinologist I am going to says all low dose BCP have a tendency to make you lose your period. He says there is nothing to worry about. He also said that 20 years ago it was "proven" that BCP did not cause prolactinomas. I really trust this doctor, he is nationally renowned, but I still question the BCP. My doctor also told me that unless a prolactinoma causes the prolactin level to go above 100, he would do nothing to treat it. I do worry about what BCP are doing to me, but they are so convenient that I am going to keep taking them in between having babies as long as the prolactinoma doesn't come back. I just quit taking them to try for another baby...as long as I have a normal period first to clean everything out since I haven't had one in so long...
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