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  • Title: Pituitary prolactinoma and estrogen contraceptives.
    Author: Vaisrub S.
    Journal: JAMA; 1979 Jul 13; 242(2):177-8. PubMed ID: 12309457.
    Abstract:
    Recent diagnostic and therapeutic advances have propelled the galactorrhea-amenorrhea syndrome to the forefront of medical awareness, and many more cases of pituitary prolactinemia are being diagnosed, treated, and reported. But the increase cited in this editorial goes beyond refinement of diagnositic tests; other factors are cited as causing a real increased incidence. 1 factor is the use of estrogen-containing oral contraceptives. In a series of 30 patients with galactorrhea and amenorrhea, 23 had hyperprolactinemia. In 19 of these, symptoms followed the use of oral contraceptives, and in 4 they appeared after parturition. 3/19 had radiographic evidence of a pituitary tumor. A temporal link between the manifestations of prolactinemia and oral contraceptive use or childbirth is evident in a series of 42 patients with amenorrhea-galactorrhea and hyperprolactinemia who underwnet transsphenoidal resection of histologically verified pituitary adenomas. In 31 of these patients, symptoms developed in close association with the use or discontinued use of oral contraceptives or after childbirth. Therefore, estrogens are thought to promote growth of preexisting silent pituitary lesions.
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