Prolactin- is a bfp possible?

[SunnyL88]

Hi guys
So at the moment we have been ttc for 9 cycles to no avail and bloods showed I have high prolactin. I do still get a regular af and use of ovulation strips show I do ovulate but we’re not having much luck. DP is all fine and dandy but I’m worried that my prolactin is stopping me from conceiving. DP sister just announced she is expecting twins so I’m feeling pretty low at the moment 😩

Forgot to add that I was wondering if anyone had any success?

Hi @SunnyL88 how high? I think 440 and below is normal range. Have you been referred to an endocrinologist to investigate further? It is easy to treat. Mine was in the 1000s and I am on medication to bring it to normal range

Yeah @Wesstywoo I’ve been to endocrinologist and last week was 990 😩 but I feel awful too constant headaches and the feel my heart is racing which I know is a side effect of high prolactin. I’m going for an mri in two weeks. Who prescribed your medication? Endo or GP?

Hi @SunnyL88 sorry to hear you have been feeling unwell with it! The endo prescribed my medication after I had an mri. The good news is the meds work very quickly and my levels were back to normal range at my next blood test which was 6 weeks later. Feel absolutely fine on the meds, have had no side effects whatsoever. Good luck with your mri!

Fabulous news about the medication working so quickly @Wesstywoo- it’s getting appointments that’s the problem haha! Everything takes so bloody long doesn’t it?! Are you ttc if you don’t mind me asking or have you? I’m getting impatient waiting for any sign of a bfp and it’s really disheartening when af comes each time x

@SunnyL88 yes I am 3 years into my TTC journey - unfortunately my GP at the time kept fobbing me off and so it took 2 YEARS for me to get the mri and meds! I'm currently having IVF because I also found out via the consultant that have low egg reserve (which is nothing to do with the prolactin) so it was now or never for me to have IVF. Don't let any of that worry you though, if high prolactin is your only problem then the meds will fix it (quickly!) and you should have no further problems with TTC naturally. Best of luck to you! xx

2 years? Jeeeeeez so unfair ☹️ So it’s set you back a lot then. I’m so sorry to hear that. I’ve been with my dp for 10 years and only last year has he shown any interest in ttc and now we’re finding it a struggle.

My levels were 900 last checked but the endo said it’s not high enough for treatment 🙁😩

Mine were 950 but came down to 350 without any medical intervention. There was a lifestyle change though - more fresh fruit and veg, I started walking 3 times a week and the big one was reducing stress. I started doing meditations off YouTube and the combination seems to have done the trick. The only other change I ve made is using Inofolic, which I use for PCOS. I'm not overweight and my GP stress reduction was the most important factor

Mine was 1850 +. I changed my lifestyle (leaving work at the door, exercising more, eating healthier) and started meditation & being more positive. I attended counselling and dealt with my stress. It took about 12 months to conceive.

Thanks both of you. I’m signed off with stress at the moment and have been going to yoga and feel it’s starting to work. I plan on taking up more exercise as I’m not the most in shape but not massively overweight either. Thanks for the tips xx

Stress can be one cause for it too be high, mine is due to a tiny (but harmless!) growth on my pituitary gland. They usually check your levels several times to see if they come down on their own. Sorry to hear you are suffering with stress - I'd echo the other ladies, youtube meditations have helped me greatly on that front!

I have extremely high prolactin - over 3000 at one point and when I’ve wqnted to conceive both my children (now 15 and 6) the endocrinologist put me on dostinex to reduce the prolactin and make my periods more regular. Definitely ask if you can go onto it if you aren’t already.

Sorry that will teach me to read posts properly before posting! Sorry that they’re saying you can’t go on the medication. I would seek a second opinion.

Thanks so much for the support @fairylea @Wesstywoo and @SwoopTheJackpot- it is so appreciated. I have my mri booked in now but it’s not for 1 month and I was speaking to a private endo today and they can prescribe cabergoline for £60 - I may just do that ... what do you all think?

@SunnyL88 well I'd personally wait for the MRI if it's only a month away. I know how frustrating and upsetting BFNs are every month but you want to get an accurate diagnosis (whether the cause is stress or pituitary issue) and plan going forward - I will need to take the meds for 5 years (I think it shrinks the growth I have)

Hi @Wesstywoo I was diagnosed with high prolactin about 6 weeks ago.

Went to an endo through insurance, was given Cabergoline and went back today for a follow up following blood test last week.

My level has dropped from 1300 to 104.
So I can confirm it does happen really quickly!

Sorry that was for @SunnyL88 - got the names mixed up!!

I had this.. can't remember my levels but was told I couldn't conceive with the prolactin count. Had the mri and had a pituitary tumour. Took boromocriptine (sp) to bring my levels down and the tumour is now gone (was first treated at 20, I'm now 31), and I'm 32 weeks pregnant now after ttc for three months. I remember the weight of ttc/worry on my mind it wouldn't happen in my late twenties, and I know I am lucky it was quick for us when we did decide to ttc, but hopefully if it's just high prolactin it should be easy to treat x

Thanks @agteacht and @gebs

I actually got a bfp on Saturday but since then my line has been getting lighter so my gp thinks a chemical pregnancy was to blame. I was so excited too. Waiting on blood results this afternoon 😭

Hi @SunnyL88 I know this thread is a couple of months old but after 3 (and a suspected 4th) chemical pregnancy, I've had tests for blood clotting and a scan which all came back normal. I've done my own tests which showed that I have very high prolactin c.1500. Can you please let me know where you are with your tests?

I really hope this wasn't a chemical for you and you had a happy ending!

This was a chemical pregnancy and high prolactin was the cause.

It was a very happy ending!!
I fell pregnant the next cycle with Twins in fact so doubly blessed. I ended up having to take cabergoline to reduce the prolactin. Don’t be fobbed off with ‘oh your levels aren’t that high’ - they need to be 100/200 maximum to conceive easily. Good luck I really hope you get your happy ending xx

@Sunny88

This was a chemical pregnancy and high prolactin was the cause.

It was a very happy ending!!
I fell pregnant the next cycle with Twins in fact so doubly blessed. I ended up having to take cabergoline to reduce the prolactin. Don’t be fobbed off with ‘oh your levels aren’t that high’ - they need to be 100/200 maximum to conceive easily. Good luck I really hope you get your happy ending xx

Sorry this was to @RoseGoldLove

Oh @SunnyL88 that is wonderful - your post has got me in tears. Did you get the medication from the GP or did you have to go to a specialist first? I have a specialist gynocologist at the moment but wonder if I need a hormone specialist.

From the gp but I was relentless. Every hint of a migraine I was telling them about and basically in the end I got signed off work with stress because of that and ttc- I think being off and doing my own thing, walking, reading helped immensely.

I really really pray you get your bfp soon. My next step was clomid but didn’t need to xx

Thank you so much! Your twins are gorgeous! Sadly my problem isn't with BFPs....it's keeping them!

Thank you again for giving me some hope during this dark time.