Breast milk in the absence of pregnancy
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Dear Ask The Doctor: A few years ago i noticed milk in my breast, i have never been pregnant, i was told by a doctor that my prolactin level is high, how did this happen? I didnt go back to a doctor since. my sweat smells really awful and my deoderants wrk for two weeks then...
Dear Don:The symptoms you describe leaking breasts, with a negative pregnancy test, may be due to an imbalance in your prolactin hormone levels. Prolactin hormone stimulates the female breast to produce milk, and it is secreted from the posterior pituitary gland. High prolactin hormone levels are common in pregnancy, nipple stimulation and stress but many drugs can cause an elevated prolactin level. Atypical antipsychotic drugs e.g. Respiridone (Risperdal), antidepressant drugs e.g. Clomipramine (Anafranil), and gastrointestinal drugs e.g. Cimetidine (Tagamet) or Metoclopramide (Reglan) all elevate prolactin levels, mainly by blocking of Dopamine D2 receptor. Less common causes of high prolactin levels include pituitary tumours which secrete excess prolactin. I would advise further evaluation with your family physician or endocrinologist to determine the cause in your case. |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 20 August 2010 )
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