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holland - thank you so much for that information! I have been complaining so much about those shooting pains in the left breast and my GP/OBGYn say it's normal PMS but I don't know that they are right. I can't wait to see the RE who I am sure will see it in a different light. I alos start getting intense cramping at around 8dpo and to me this seems to be a bit early for my body to prepare to shed the uterline lining as that is implantation time. As you have mentioned, maybe the prolactin is affecting the lining and its ability to allow for implant.

Hello Ladies. This is my first time on here... but I needed to turn to people who were having the same problems I was having (because my doctor seems to be of no use to me - doesn't tell me anything), BUT... I've had all the fertility work-up- Day 3 and 21. Day 21 showed high levels of prolactin (66.32), but my cycle is very regular (between 27-32 days) AND I do ovulate. I've had an HSG done, an MRI done on my abdomen, and NOW (as if I haven't gone through enough) they want me to have another MRI to check out my pituitary gland. I'm 27 and been ttc for 12 months. Do you really think that the prolactin is that much to blame if I have regular cycles and I do ovulate?? Please help!!

OH and my day 21 progesterone level was at a 13.65 (which they say is good) AHHHHH!!!

Nikki78- Go up to May 4 entries, we discussed your concerns. High prolactin levels play a huge part in trying to conceive. Actually, I think Rachel5 has your same situation... she is regular with her cycles but cannot concieve. Here's the key. Prolactin levels go up when women are breastfeeding this is why (for the most part) women do not concieve while breastfeeding. High levels can keep your pituitary from excreting FSH and LH, and for some women (like me) they cannot even start a period. LIke I told Rachel5. The fact that you are regular is good... that is half the battle. You could have very well have conceived but the egg did not implant. The high levels keep your uterine lining from being viable for implantation. Your MRI will look for a tumor (non cancerous) that can be shrunk and maintained with oral medication... in some cases when the tumor is too large it is surgically removed. I know the process is frustrating.... but, keep in mind they're ruling out the "next" thing. I had an MRI and it came back negative... however, my levels were still elevated and they don't know why. I"ve been on bromocriptine going on two weeks, they hope this will lower my level so I can ovulate, finally have a period and become pregnant. So, the answer to your question is yes, high prolactin levels can very well prevent you from concieving and their cause needs to be found and treated. You'll be fine. Just get into the MRI and go from there. Its just what you have to do. As I told Rachel5 you both have half the battle won... its going to be fine.

Holland.... Thank you so much! You have been of great help... I wish that my dr. could be half as helpful (you must have a great dr.) Well... I get my 2nd MRI tomorrow morning.... hopefully they will then put me on some GOOD meds... and then I can have my little one!!! :)

Nikki, you may want to consider getting a second opinion... especially if you are unhappy with your dr.'s bedside manners. I am seeing a Reproductive Endocrinologist at University of Virginia Medical Center... (2 hours away) I would encourage you to see if you have any local University Hospitals like Duke, or Cedar Sinai... these hospitals hold some of the worlds best "specialists" My girlfriend is at Med school at UVA and she told me..." you live an hour and a half from specialists that are known around the world and specialize ONLY in Reproductive Endocrinology.... this is your life and your health, you cannont afford to NOT go." Prior to that I was just seeing my OB/GYN... he put me on Clomid, but I decided myself I wouldn't try to concieve until I went for a second opinion... He said I did ovulate from the Clomid but because my Prolactin level was high that I would have miscarried....bottom line... (and I asked my Endo. this) Had I continued with Clomid, I would have miscarried probably several times.... how devastating.... So, now, I'm just doing what my Endo tells me to do, and I'm going to return to my OB when I am pregnant and need to deliver.... Get a second opinion.... go see a specialist... not even necessarily an Infertiity specialist.... a reproductive Endo.... I owe everything to my friend.... I can't even think about what I would have done if I just decided not to got to UVA.... just food for thought. Good luck with your MRI... they can be annoying especially when you pass out and throw up from the contrast! ha! Let me know how it goes and what they say.

holland - Things with the second MRI on Thurs. checked out just fine. So, now I have a dr. appt next Tues. to sit down and talk with my dr. (to see what the next step needs to be). I'm sure it will to put me on some meds. until the prolactin level lowers... (but I'm sure that my dr. will find another way for me to spend $2,000 on another MRI :) ) I definitely need to look into finding a good specialist. I actually live in Charlotte, so Duke isn't TOO far away! I'd like to find something closer though... :) So, what are your next steps?? Let me know...

That is great news... so, it sounds like you'll go back to the doctor for some counseling....After my MRI checked out okay, I went back to the specialist for some bloodwork. He also did an ultrasound and checked my breasts. The ultrasound looked normal- my uterus and ovaries looked fine, my ovaries just weren't developing a follicle when they should have been. At this point they were ruling out other possible causes and confirming that the prolactin was the issue. This is probably what they will do with you. I started bromocriptine on the evening of May 6th, by morning I was throwing up and continued for about 9 hours.... it was awful, but ever since then everyday has been easier. My directions are to take the bromo everyday and in six weeks if I have started a period (which they are hoping) I need to come back then they can tell me if i can start trying to conceive. If I don't start... they're going to put me on clomid and continue with the bromocripine.. Gosh.... its so much stuff....Because I didn't have a tumor, the Endo said he really cant explain why my levels are high. He hypothesizes that there are teeny tiny cells inside my pituitary ( not a tumor, but that are going
unseen). So, basically they're treating me as if I do have one. As for Duke.... Duke is wonderful! Is Wake Forest closer? I would try either of those two or find a Reproductive Endo in Charlotte- and find a good one. Let me know what the Dr. says tomorrow! I have a feeling they're just going to begin ruling other things out like trauma to your breasts or chest area... ask you lots of questions.

hi everyone;

i have goodnews for you i am 4 week 4days pregnant i am so happy this is great feeling please dont lost you hope when the right times come everyone will get pregnant. i will go to doctor tomorrow i hope the babies fine and healthy i will write you again.

hi jasmine,
thats so gr8 frnd....congrats to u& healthy pregnancy to u...u made it...now u gave us hope ...

Jasmine! Oh my god! I just checked in here to see if anyone had any good news- this board was so overdue for some- I am ecstatic for you! You have responded to many of my postings to give me hope with high prolactin. Congratulations! How long did it take you since starting the meds? And did Clomid help? Keep in touch- and best of luck to you.

Brooke

aish and bciervo

thanks alot for your good feeling. it took me 5 months to convince. i started in december. this was my second month of using clomid i am praying god everday i hope that everyone got pregnant very soon. and to have hight prolactin is not a importand there are so many other sickness which you have to deal with along time when your prolactin goes down there is no risk that you can not get pregnant i always beleive that please dont lost your hope one day you will get that great news like me.

jasmine, I am sooooo happy for you....oh... what a blessing. I started bromo 3 weeks ago. The dr. would not tell me what my level was... they said it wasn't extremely high, just elevated and that they wanted to get it back into the normal range.... wierd. I'm supposed to go back in three weeks... I have yet to start a period and have been tracking my temp.... nothing.... I think they might put me on clomid (which I ovulated well with in the past)... did your dr.s make you wait until you had several cycles before they would let you try and concieve? I"m so depressed.... BOTH of my sister in laws gave birth- one last week and one over the weekend....me??? nothing.... I try to be strong,but sometimes my heart just breaks and I get so depressed. So, in all how long do you think it took you to get pregnant from the bromocriptine?
Congratulations!

I'm so thankful to find this site! It gives me hope to hear your stories. I have been ttc a second child for ten months and was diagnosed with a prolactin level of 80 in March. I was having regular cycles and had no other symptoms. I started taking 1.25 of bromo and was retested two weeks ago and it was down to 28. I am now taking 2.5 bromo. My ob said to wait till August to do any other fertility testing.. checking follicles or clomid. He also said that I didn't need an mri because my level was below 100. Does this sound right? I'm not sure if I should switch to a specialist? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

bl- welcome- this board has been great for me since finding out I had high prolactin in January. I've been on bromo since then- my level at the time was 29.5 and last time we checked it was 6.1. It doesn't sound like you need a specialist, since it's coming down for you. It usually doesn't take too long. I've been trying now about 16 mos since a miscarriage- so this board keeps me going. It's good when you hear good news by someone that kind of gives you more hope in the meds. Good luck to you and hang in there with us!

bciervo, thanks for your words of encouragement. p.s. My name is Brooke too!!