Prolactinoma Support Group
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 by too much prolactin in the blood or by pressure of the tumor on surrounding tissues. Prolactin stimulates the breast to produce milk during pregnancy. After delivery of the baby, a mother's...
hi all,
i first discovered my pituitary macroadenoma in September 2016, about 4-5 months into my first pregnancy. i was suddenly having blurry vision in my left eye and an MRI showed a 22mm tumor compressing my optic chiasm. i had raised prolactin levels, but prolactin is high anyway during pregnancy, so the doctors can't tell if it's a prolactinoma or a nonfunctioning tumor. i then started on bromocriptine for the rest of my pregnancy (since there was no known harm to the fetus) and my vision actually gradually improved till i can't feel any deficit. and have just given birth to a healthy baby.
i was wondering if anyone else has had the same experience of a pituitary tumor appearing during pregnancy? did pregnancy somehow cause the tumor? what happened to the tumor post partum? did it shrink? did you have to operate? were you able to have future babies?
i have an MRI scheduled a month from now, to see if the tumor size has changed. really wishing that it has shrunk. and that i can have more kids in future. and hoping to avoid surgery..
any comments welcome :)
I also had a micro prolactinoma that developed into a macro prolactinoma during pregnancy 10 years ago. I was initially diagnosed with a prolactinoma 17 years ago after having my first child and with no symptoms other than no menstruation 12months post partum. I took bromocriptine and cabergoline from then on and got pregnant again trouble free. It was only with my fourth child that the prolactinoma became an issue, at about 36 weeks I had a CT scan covered in lead blankets -I couldn't fit in the MRI tunnel!! I'd been experiencing headaches for a while but having 3 children under 8yrs, thought it wasn't unusual and I put up with it for longer than I should have really. It was only when my vision was affected that I saw a doctor and was sent for the scan. I was immediately put on bromocriptine and the headaches and vision improved within days. Postpartum it shrunk and has been no problem since then, I've even had a couple of years without medication but back on cabergoline now as my prolactin increased again. I was also told that taking bromocriptine would stop me breastfeeding my baby, which I found difficult as I'd fed the other 3 for the first 6/7 months exclusively. I was disappointed that I wouldn't be able to and was told it was impossible but I could try! I tried and succeeded! As soon as I had the scan showing that the tumour had shrunk I stopped the medication and continued to breastfeed. With all of my pregnancies it's only after restarting the medication that the lactating stopped and menstruation and ovulation restarted. But it's been fairly straightforward thereafter other than that once. All my children and I are in good health. I hope all goes well for you too.