Summary
A case of infertility associated initially with amenorrhoea only and then with amenorrhoea and galactorrhoea following a successfully induced pregnancy is reported. In a period of eight years of continuous investigation and treatment this subject’s infertility first responded to sequential clomiphene and human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) therapy resulting in a normal pregnancy. Subsequently she became refractory to this therapy. The availability of specific prolactin assays and a prolactin inhibitor (2-Br-α-ergocryptine, bromocriptine Sandoz) identified the aetiology of her amenorrhoea/galactorrhoea/infertility and provided a new mode of therapy. Planned conception has been achieved on three occasions, producing two normal males and a normal female child.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Albert, A. 1966. The kaolin-acetone method for processing urine for the routine clinical assay of human pituitary gonadotrophin. Acta Endocr. Supplement 106.
Besser, G. M., Parke, L., Edwards, C. R. W., Forsyth, I. A. and McNeilly, A. S. 1972. Galactorrhoea: Successful treatment with reduction of plasma prolactin levels by brom-ergocryptine. Brit. med. J. iii, 669.
Brown, J. B. 1955. A chemical method for the determination of oestriol, oestrone and oestradiol in human urine. Biochem. J. 60, 185.
Faiman, C. and Ryan, R. J. 1967. Radioimmunoassay for human FSH. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 27, 444.
Floss, H. G., Cassady, J. M. and Robbers, J. E. 1973. Influence of ergot alkaloids on pituitary prolactin and prolactin-dependent processes. J. Pharm. Sci. 62, 699.
Heinrichs, H. D. and Zander, J. 1964. The excretion of hypophyseal gonadotrophins in women with disturbances of avarian function before and during treatment with clomiphene (MRL-41). Klin. Wschr. 42, 15.
Hwang, P. H., Guyda, H. and Friesen, H. G. 1971. A radioimmunoassay for prolactin. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (U.S.A.) 68, 1902.
Klopper, A., Michie, E. A. and Brown, J. B. 1955. A method for the determination for the urinary pregnanediol. J. Endocr. 12, 209.
Lambe, R. F., Tormey, P. D. and Darragh, A. 1971. The early detection of luteal activity. Irish J. Med. Sci. 140, 316.
Midgley, A. R. 1966. Radioimmunoassay: A method for human chorionic gonadotropin and human luteinizing hormone. Endocrinology 79, 10.
Odell, W. D., Rayford, P. L. and Ross, G. T. 1967. Simple, partially automated method for radioimmunoassay of human thyroid stimulating, growth, luteinizing and follicle stimulating hormones. J. Lab. Clin. Med. 70, 973.
Palmer, R. F., Darragh, A., Connolly, G. A. and O’Brien, L. 1968. Oestriol determinations in normal and abnormal pregnancies. Irish J. Med. Sci. 1, 569.
Paulsen, C. A. and Herrmann, W. L. 1963. Increased pituitary-ovarian function in amenorrheic women resultant to clomiphene administration. Clin. Res. 11, 85.
del Pozo, E., Friesen, H. G. and Burmeister, P. 1973. Endocrine profile of a specific prolactin inhibitor: Br. ergocryptine (CB 154). A preliminary report. Schweiz. Med. Wschr. 103, 847.
del Pozo, E., Brun del Re., R., Varga, L. and Friesen, H. G. 1972. The inhibition of prolactin secretion in man by CB-154 (2-Br-α-ergocryptine). J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 35, 768.
Rolland, R., Lequin, R. M., Schellekens, L. A. and de Johng, F. H. 1975. The role of prolactin in the restoration of ovarian function during the early post-partum period in the human female. 1 A Study during physiological lactation. Clin. Endocrinol. 4, 15.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Darragh, A., O’Kelly, D.A., Browne, A.D.H. et al. Restoration of fertility in prolactin induced premature menopause. IJMS 145, 231–236 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02938951
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02938951