High prolactin and IVF looming

[thislittlebird]

I’m wondering if anyone knows more about this than I do. My prolactin was normal earlier in the year, then I had a blood test a week or so ago and now it’s 590. I’m due to start ivf next month and I’m worried it won’t go ahead with this latest blood result. Have to try calling the doctor again tomorrow to see what he says, I couldn’t get an appointment today.

Has anyone here had similar levels? Or had high prolactin and successful ivf? I’m really worried and I might not get to speak to the GP this side of Christmas.

Hi @thislittlebird prolactin levels can vary a lot sometimes even day to day. Mine were really high before my first ever cycle - can't remember the levels but higher than yours. We were told it might be cancelled and then 2 days later they were back to normal.

I think it's definitely worth talking through your concerns with the clinic to see what steps they would take if your levels remain high.

Best of luck and fingers crossed the levels come down naturally x

@Janefx40 hi, thank you for responding. It’s useful to know they can vary a lot. I got the test on the day I think I ovulated or the day after, and I need to read about it more, but I think I read levels can be higher levels after ovulation.

I think I’m going to ask my GP for another test to do early in my cycle coming up and see how that is, just need to try to speak to him.

@thislittlebird if it was me I think I'd talk to the clinic first to find out a bit more. There may be particular points in the cycle to test and they may have recommendations about what level they want to see or which endocrinologist to go to if needed.

IVF is one long stress isn't it!!! Just a long string of worries! The good thing about high prolactin is that it is treatable at least

Best of luck x

Thanks @Janefx40, I’m going to email them today and ask what they need. It really is one long stress and I’m so over it!

@thislittlebird I have consistently high prolactin levels (in the 1000s which I am medicated for) and the IVF clinic were never concerned about this. To be honest one high reading doesn't mean anything. Stress can raise prolactin levels and something as simple as rushing to the appointment or getting stressed about the blood test can raise it. To confirm a consistently high reading they need to fit you with a cannula and take several samples across about 2 hours to rule this out. I had successful IVF despite my levels.

@IndigoNC thank you! That’s really good to know. There’s so much info online with people saying you’ll struggle to conceive with it and it stressed me out. I’m hoping they won’t be worried by one high reading. Really pleased to hear your ivf worked too, it feels like there’s always something going against it working in this process.

@thislittlebird yes it can stop you ovulating if it gets too high which is why it can make natural conception difficult but thankfully that isn't relevant with IVF

@IndigoNC yeah that’s good, hopefully ivf will be able to work around it!

Do you get prolactin checked as a general rule before starting IVF? I'm due to start early next year (have consents signed just waiting on doc appointment mid January. I have had private blood tests done through medichecks and prolactin was the only thing that came back high. 520 in September then repeat test in October came back over 700. Both were done CD3 or CD4. Only test my GP have done was progesterone on CD21, I feel like I should of had more than this by now.

@Autumn245 yeah, my old GP did mine in February last year. It was within normal range at that time so it’s not something I’ve ever been worried about. I will assume the clinic checked it again when I saw them in august but I’m really not sure. My new GP then did it again when I went in asking him to run PCOS tests, and this was one of the ones he ran.

Your GP should have done a few more than that, did they really only test your progesterone?

@thislittlebird yes GP only checked progesterone which confirmed I ovulated that month, then I was referred to the fertility clinic. I had assumed they would do other blood work but nothing so far. I will definitely ask when we have our appointment in January, and ask about PCOS also as they did mention I was borderline when I had my hycosy (showed 29 follicles!)

@Autumn245 hmmm a little odd to do nothing else, no testosterone, oestrogen, LH, FSH, thyroid, prolactin etc. My GP didn’t do any day 3 tests and when I had them redone at a new GP they arranged it for me.

What did they refer you to the clinic on the basis of? My progesterone came back as iffy twice andy husband’s sperm motility was not great only then would they refer me to a gynaecologist and not to fertility and then after three months of waiting the gynaecologist sent us away :/

Definitely ask about PCOS, I have had 23-38 follicles on various scans and no one can seem to agree if I have PCOS or not so that’s why I asked for the tests.

@thislittlebird no none of that which I thought was strange. We had been trying for 18 months when I contacted GP. They did progesterone for me and SA for hubby and referred us when both came back normal. Hycosy showed clear tubes too. When we passed 2 year mark we were added to wating list for IVF with 'unexplained infertility' and we are now at top of the list. We've signed consent forms and have a video call mid January and then should be going in for bloods to check all clear for HIV and Hepatitis, but other than that no more has been said about other tests.

@Autumn245 probably the time trying then, but still a bit slack of them to test properly. It’s been 2 years for us now, we start ivf in January but I’m 38 and could have been referred to the fertility clinic earlier really, but they kept cocking up and I had to get a private doc to argue we were entitled to help, and they also did my Hycosy at the private clinic.

We have to go back for the Hep/HIV tests on the last week of Jan, starting the drugs the same time.

@thislittlebird yes it's been a frustrating journey now knowing what's going on and not getting the tests other people seem to get. I'm 34, soon to be 35. Hoping to start on meds beginning of Feb but will have to see what this video call brings first.

How are you feeling about starting on the meds?

@Autumn245 very relatable. It felt like everyone was making progress but me six months ago, I just kept getting knockbacks.

I’m ok with the idea just a bit worried about OHSS. Although having high AMH means fewer days/doses of stims hopefully and my drugs are supposed to be coming on Jan 18th, starting them the following week. We did some ovulation induction with a trigger shot for three months and although I’m not comfortable injecting myself yet, my DH is very chilled and has done a trigger injection for me three times so I’m confident he can do it if I’m not so keen. How about you?

@thislittlebird I'm the same with worrying about OHSS. And the thought of injections scare me...But needs must I guess! My hubby worse than me when it comes to needles so I reckon I'll be doing them by myself haha

@Autumn245 my doctor wanted to put my on max doses and I had to push back. No way do I want that OHSS risk, thank you. I’m on low doses now having said no to high doses based on what private consultants had told me. It’s frustrating to have to constantly self advocate.

Oh no, that’s annoying but I’m sure you’ll be fine. I might leave mine to do it for me if we can get away with it, so he has more of a role as such.