Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
National Institutes of Health
NCATS

COVID-19 is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation.

Get the latest public health information from CDC: https://www.coronavirus.gov (link is external)
Get the latest research information from NIH: https://www.nih.gov/coronavirus (link is external)

National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences
1-888-205-2311
Menu Search
1-888-205-2311
Menu
  • Home
  • Diseases expand submenu for Diseases
    • Browse A-Z
    • Find Diseases By Category expand submenu for Find Diseases By Category
      • Autoimmune / Autoinflammatory diseases
      • Bacterial infections
      • Behavioral and mental disorders
      • Blood Diseases
      • Chromosome Disorders
      • Congenital and Genetic Diseases
      • Connective tissue diseases
      • Digestive Diseases
      • Ear, Nose, and Throat Diseases
      • Endocrine Diseases
      • Environmental Diseases
      • Eye diseases
      • Female Reproductive Diseases
      • Fungal infections
      • Heart Diseases
      • Hereditary Cancer Syndromes
      • Immune System Diseases
      • Kidney and Urinary Diseases
      • Lung Diseases
      • Male Reproductive Diseases
      • Metabolic disorders
      • Mouth Diseases
      • Musculoskeletal Diseases
      • Myelodysplastic Syndromes
      • Nervous System Diseases
      • Newborn Screening
      • Nutritional diseases
      • Parasitic diseases
      • Rare Cancers
      • RDCRN
      • Skin Diseases
      • Viral infections
    • List of FDA Orphan Drugs
    • GARD Information Navigator
    • FAQs About Rare Diseases
  • Guides expand submenu for Guides
    • Patients, Families and Friends expand submenu for Patients, Families and Friends
      • How to Find a Disease Specialist
      • Tips for the Undiagnosed
      • Support for Patients and Families
      • Tips for Finding Financial Aid
      • Help with Travel Costs
      • How to Get Involved in Research
      • FAQs About Chromosome Disorders
      • Medical and Science Glossaries
    • Healthcare Professionals expand submenu for Healthcare Professionals
      • Caring for Your Patient with a Rare Disease
      • ICD Coding for Rare Diseases
      • FindZebra Diagnosis Assist Tool
    • Researchers expand submenu for Researchers
      • Finding Funding Opportunities
    • Teachers and Students expand submenu for Teachers and Students
      • Teaching Resources
  • News expand submenu for News
    • In The Spotlight
    • News Archive
    • Connect with GARD
    • Media Requests
  • About GARD expand submenu for About GARD
    • Contact GARD
    • About GARD
    • Videos
    • Brochures and Publications
  • En Español expand submenu for En Español
    • Enfermedades
    • Contacte GARD
    • Guías de Información expand submenu for Guías de Información
      • Preguntas Más Frecuentes Sobre Enfermedades Raras
      • Como Encontrar un Especialista en su Enfermedad
      • Consejos Para una Condición no Diagnosticada
      • Consejos Para Pacientes y Familias
      • Consejos Para Obtener Ayuda Financiera Para Una Enfermedad
      • Participe en Estudios de Investigación
      • Preguntas Más Frecuentes Sobre los Trastornos Cromosómicos
    • Sobre GARD
  • Home
© Positive Exposure
banner showing people with disabilities and/or their relatives
  1. Home
  2. Diseases
  3. Prolactinoma
print
  • Table of Contents expand submenu for Table of Contents
    • Summary
    • Symptoms
    • Diagnosis
    • Find a Specialist
    • Related Diseases
    • Organizations
    • Learn More
    • GARD Answers
    • References
  • Browse A-Z
  • Find Diseases By Category expand submenu for Find Diseases By Category
    • Autoimmune / Autoinflammatory diseases
    • Bacterial infections
    • Behavioral and mental disorders
    • Blood Diseases
    • Chromosome Disorders
    • Congenital and Genetic Diseases
    • Connective tissue diseases
    • Digestive Diseases
    • Ear, Nose, and Throat Diseases
    • Endocrine Diseases
    • Environmental Diseases
    • Eye diseases
    • Female Reproductive Diseases
    • Fungal infections
    • Heart Diseases
    • Hereditary Cancer Syndromes
    • Immune System Diseases
    • Kidney and Urinary Diseases
    • Lung Diseases
    • Male Reproductive Diseases
    • Metabolic disorders
    • Mouth Diseases
    • Musculoskeletal Diseases
    • Myelodysplastic Syndromes
    • Nervous System Diseases
    • Newborn Screening
    • Nutritional diseases
    • Parasitic diseases
    • Rare Cancers
    • RDCRN
    • Skin Diseases
    • Viral infections
  • List of FDA Orphan Drugs
  • GARD Information Navigator
  • FAQs About Rare Diseases
You can help advance
rare disease research!
You can help advance rare disease research!
toolbox
Find out how with the NCATS Toolkit.

Prolactinoma


Title


How can we make GARD better? We want to hear from you.
Provide Feedback

Other Names:
Lactotroph adenoma; Pituitary lactotrophic adenoma; PRL-secreting pituitary adenoma; Lactotroph adenoma; Pituitary lactotrophic adenoma; PRL-secreting pituitary adenoma; PRLoma; Prolactin-secreting pituitary adenoma; Forbes-Albright syndrome (formerly); Prolactin-Producing Pituitary Gland Adenoma See More
Categories:
Endocrine Diseases

Summary Summary


Listen
Prolactinoma is a tumor of the pituitary gland that causes increased levels of the hormone prolactin. This hormone normally stimulates breast development and milk production in women. Prolactinoma can affect men or women. In women, the symptoms may include unusual milk production (galactorrhea) when not pregnant or nursing and having no menstrual cycles (amenorrhea). In men, the most common symptoms are decreased sex drive and infertility. Most prolactinomas occur by chance (sporadically) in people with no family history. In a small number of cases, prolactinoma may be caused by a genetic condition such as multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) or familial isolated pituitary adenoma. Treatment for prolactinoma usually involves taking oral medications known as dopamine agonists. These medications can reduce prolactin levels and shrink the tumor. In more severe cases, radiation therapy or surgery may be needed.[1][2]
Last updated: 9/28/2016

Symptoms Symptoms


Listen

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

Showing of 42 |
Medical Terms Other Names
Learn More:
HPO ID
80%-99% of people have these symptoms
Amenorrhea
Abnormal absence of menstruation
0000141
Decreased female libido
Decreased female sex drive
0030018
Decreased fertility in females
Reduced fertility in females
0000868
Decreased fertility in males 0012041
Female hypogonadism 0000134
Galactorrhea
Spontaneous milk flow from breast
0100829
Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism 0000044
Impotence
Difficulty getting a full erection
Difficulty getting an erection
[ more ]
0000802
Irregular menstruation
Menstrual irregularity
0000858
Male hypogonadism
Decreased function of male gonad
0000026
30%-79% of people have these symptoms
Abnormal hair quantity 0011362
Adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency 0011748
Adrenocorticotropin deficient adrenal insufficiency 0011735
Decreased circulating ACTH level 0002920
Dyspareunia 0030016
Easy fatigability 0003388
Fatigue
Tired
Tiredness
[ more ]
0012378
Gynecomastia
Enlarged male breast
0000771
Headache
Headaches
0002315
Hypotension
Low blood pressure
0002615
Osteopenia 0000938
Osteoporosis 0000939
Pallor 0000980
Pituitary hypothyroidism
Low thyroid gland function due to abnormal pituitary gland
0008245
Progressive visual loss
Progressive loss of vision
Progressive vision loss
Progressive visual impairment
Slowly progressive visual loss
Vision loss, progressive
Visual loss, progressive
[ more ]
0000529
Secondary growth hormone deficiency 0008240
Vomiting
Throwing up
0002013
5%-29% of people have these symptoms
Bitemporal hemianopia 0030521
Blindness 0000618
Cranial nerve VI palsy 0006897
Delayed puberty
Delayed pubertal development
Delayed pubertal growth
Pubertal delay
[ more ]
0000823
Diplopia
Double vision
0000651
Fourth cranial nerve palsy 0007011
Growth hormone excess 0000845
Internal ophthalmoplegia 0007942
Oculomotor nerve palsy 0012246
Ptosis
Drooping upper eyelid
0000508
Seizure 0001250
Sudden loss of visual acuity 0001117
Vertigo
Dizzy spell
0002321
Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO
Pituitary prolactin cell adenoma 0006767
Prolactinoma 0040278
Showing of 42 |
Do you have more information about symptoms of this disease? We want to hear from you.
Last updated: 1/1/2021
Do you have updated information on this disease? We want to hear from you.

Diagnosis Diagnosis


Listen

Making a diagnosis for a genetic or rare disease can often be challenging. Healthcare professionals typically look at a person’s medical history, symptoms, physical exam, and laboratory test results in order to make a diagnosis. The following resources provide information relating to diagnosis and testing for this condition. If you have questions about getting a diagnosis, you should contact a healthcare professional.

Testing Resources

  • The Genetic Testing Registry (GTR) provides information about the genetic tests for this condition. The intended audience for the GTR is health care providers and researchers. Patients and consumers with specific questions about a genetic test should contact a health care provider or a genetics professional.

Find a Specialist Find a Specialist


Listen

If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments.

If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care.

You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists.

Healthcare Resources

  • To find a medical professional who specializes in genetics, you can ask your doctor for a referral or you can search for one yourself. Online directories are provided by the American College of Medical Genetics and the National Society of Genetic Counselors. If you need additional help, contact a GARD Information Specialist. You can also learn more about genetic consultations from Genetics Home Reference.
  • The Pituitary Network Association provides a list of pituitary specialists.

Related Diseases Related Diseases


Listen

Related diseases are conditions that have similar signs and symptoms. A health care provider may consider these conditions in the table below when making a diagnosis. Please note that the table may not include all the possible conditions related to this disease.

Conditions with similar signs and symptoms from Orphanet
Causes of hyperprolactinemia without pituitary adenoma include: pregnancy, lactation, exercise, stress and polycystic ovary syndrome. Pituitary lesions that do not produce prolactin can also cause hyperprolactinemia by pituitary stalk impingement (stalk effect).
Visit the Orphanet disease page for more information.

Organizations Organizations


Listen

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

  • Pituitary Network Association
    P.O. Box 1958
    Thousand Oaks, CA 91358
    Telephone: +1-805-499-9973
    Fax: +1-805-480-0633
    E-mail: info@pituitary.org
    Website: https://pituitary.org/
  • The Pituitary Foundation
    86 Colston Street
    Bristol BS1 5BB
    United Kingdom
    Telephone: 0117 370 1320
    E-mail: helpline@pituitary.org.uk
    Website: https://www.pituitary.org.uk/
Do you know of an organization? We want to hear from you.

Learn More Learn More


Listen

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

  • Mayo Clinic has an information page on Prolactinoma.
  • MedlinePlus was designed by the National Library of Medicine to help you research your health questions, and it provides more information about this topic.
  • The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) has a report for patients and families about this condition. NORD is a patient advocacy organization for individuals with rare diseases and the organizations that serve them.
  • The Pituitary Society has a patient education booklet on Prolactinoma with information on symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and more. 

In-Depth Information

  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.

GARD Answers GARD Answers


Listen

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know. Submit a new question

  • Is a prolactinoma a genetic condition? See answer


Have a question? Contact a GARD Information Specialist.

References References


  1. Prolactinoma. Orphanet. February 2014; http://www.orpha.net/consor/cgi-bin/OC_Exp.php?Expert=2965.
  2. Prolactinomas. Pituitary Network Association. https://pituitary.org/knowledge-base/disorders/prolactinomas. Accessed 9/28/2016.
Do you know of a review article? We want to hear from you.
You can help advance
rare disease research!
You can help advance rare disease research!
toolbox
Find out how with the NCATS Toolkit.

Share this content:

Share this content:

twitter-icon facebook-icon contact-icon link-icons

Copy Link

Link copied to your clipboard.

printer-icon

You May Be Interested In

How to Find a Disease Specialist

How to Find a Disease Specialist

Tips for the Undiagnosed

Tips for the Undiagnosed

Support for Patients and Families

Support for Patients and Families

Tips for Finding Financial Aid

Tips for Finding Financial Aid

Help with Travel Costs

Help with Travel Costs

How to Get Involved in Research

How to Get Involved in Research

FAQs About Chromosome Disorders

FAQs About Chromosome Disorders

Medical and Science Glossaries

Medical and Science Glossaries

Caring for Your Patient with a Rare Disease

Caring for Your Patient with a Rare Disease

ICD Coding for Rare Diseases

ICD Coding for Rare Diseases

FindZebra Diagnosis Assist Tool

FindZebra Diagnosis Assist Tool

Finding Funding Opportunities

Finding Funding Opportunities

Teaching Resources

Teaching Resources

placeholder for the horizontal scroll slider Back to top
GARD Home NCATS Home Site Map Browse Glossary A-Z Privacy Notice Disclaimer Accessibility FOIA OIG

If you have problems viewing PDF files, download the latest version of Adobe Reader

For language access assistance, contact the NCATS Public Information Officer

Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD) - PO Box 8126, Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8126 - Toll-free: 1-888-205-2311

contact gard Office of Rare Disease Research Facebook Page Office of Rare Disease Research on Twitter
Listen