May 25, 2012
Topics A-Z Brain and Nervous System Male prolactinoma results in low testosterone levels
Male prolactinoma results in low testosterone levels |
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Dear Ask The Doctor: Hi i am a male 25 years old and have yet to have facial hair so my wife sent me to the family dr he ordered me to have a blood test the results came back with high prolactin and very low testosterone, now he is sending me to get a full body mri asap and a follow up with a specialist ... the first avaliable app wasnt for a few days, so i have researched this and found out that the only thing this could probably be is a brain tourmer!!... could it be anything else? is this deadly if it never gets fixed? is this something i did or is it somthing that is just gonna happen randomly? will my children have this problem? Dear James: Lactotroph adenomas (prolactinomas) are benign (non-cancerous) tumors of the pituitary gland that produce prolactin and thereby cause higher than normal blood prolactin concentrations. They can cause symptoms, either when the high blood prolactin concentration interferes with the function of the ovaries or testicles or, less commonly, when the adenoma grows large enough to compress nearby structures in the head, such as the nerves to the eyes. Lactotroph adenomas can usually be treated successfully with medication alone. Medication lowers the prolactin level in the blood substantially, often to normal, and also usually reduces tumor size. However, minorities of these tumors do not respond to medication and must be treated with surgery or, less commonly, radiation therapy. A high blood prolactin concentration interferes with the function of the testes, the production of testosterone(the main male sex hormone) and sperm decreases. Low testosterone causes decreased energy, sex drive, muscle mass and strength, and blood count. If levels remain low for several years, bone strength may become decreased (osteoporosis). High blood prolactin also causes difficulty in getting an erection, as well as breast tenderness and enlargement. |
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| Last Updated ( Thursday, 13 May 2010 ) |
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