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Hyperprolactinemia Women with hyperprolactinemia have high levels of the prolactin, a hormone that stimulates the production of milk. For many women, this coincides with deficiencies in hormones that cause ovulation. As a result, women with this condition may not ovulate. Causes of Hyperprolactinemia Hypothyroidism Pituitary Tumors Macroprolactinemia Prolactinoma Luteal Phase Defect Symptoms Associated with Hyperprolactinemia High levels of prolactin Infertility Amenorrhea (a condition in which a woman does not menstruate or has stopped menstruating) Oligomenorrhea (a condition in which a woman experiences menstruation at intervals that are greater than 35 days, and has between 4 and 9 periods each year) Galactorrhea (a condition in which milk spontaneously flows from the breast in the absence of childbirth) Herbal Treatment of Hyperprolactinemia Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus L.) Scientific Evidence from Clinical Trials In a random, double-blind, placebo controlled trial involving 52 women with latent hyperprolactinemia, which was causing luteal phase defect, 20mg of agnus-castus was given each day. Within three months, the tests group's prolactin levels had decreased, luteal phases returned to the normal ranges, and deficiencies in progesterone were eliminated when compared to the placebo group (Milewicz A, Gejdel E, Sworen H, et al: 1993). References Milewicz, A Gejdel E, Sworen H, et al. 1993. "Vitex agus-castus extract in the treatment of luteal phase defects due to latent hyperprolactinemia: Results of a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind study." Arzneimittelforschung. 43(7): 752-66. |
An outline of clinical studies that verify the effectiveness of herbal medications and supplements |