Q. Why does a woman with high prolactin after treatments still experience breast discharge?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
A woman with high prolactin levels in her blood has a condition known as hyperprolactinemia. This condition is most commonly caused by the presence of an abnormal growth or tumor on the pituitary gland, a part of the brain which produces hormones including prolactin. Despite treatment for this condition, such as medication to reduce prolactin levels and/or surgical removal of abnormal growths, some women will still experience breast milk production or "discharge" from their breasts.
This is due to extra breast tissue created by higher-than-normal amounts of prolactin present before and after treatments. Even if medications have successfully reduced hormone levels back to normal ranges, there may be lingering effects on breast tissues which remain unchanged - particularly in women with longterm hyperprolactinemia who received treatment later in life. In these cases, even though plasma hormone concentrations are within normal range, small amounts of milk production may continue because extra lactation-related cells can remain in certain areas where they were previously stimulated by excess hormones present prior to treatments.
However, it's important to note that this type of discharge typically occurs at minor levels (and not enough for actual breastfeeding) and without any additional signs like pain or swelling associated with it – unlike what might be seen if treatments weren’t successful at reducing symptoms altogether - so although discomforting or concerning for many women, it doesn't necessarily indicate something serious like cancerous lesions. As always though: If you're having any unusual symptoms related to your breasts then you should consult with your healthcare provider right away just to make sure !
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