Prevalence of hyperprolactinemia in adolescents and young women with menstruation-related problems.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of hyperprolactinemia in adolescents and young women with menstrual problems.

STUDY

DESIGN

This study included 1704 young women with menstruation-related problems. The patients were classified into group I (age, 11-20 years) or group II (age, 21-30 years); the prevalence of hyperprolactinemia was analyzed according to age and categories of menstruation-related problems.

RESULTS

For primary amenorrhea and oligomenorrhea, the prevalence of hyperprolactinemia was low in both groups. However, hyperprolactinemia was a relatively common cause of secondary amenorrhea (5.5% for group I and 13.8% for group II, respectively); it was more frequent in group II (P = .001); the prevalence of prolactinoma was also higher in group II (P = .015). For abnormal uterine bleeding, hyperprolactinemia was more common in group II (2.6% for group I and 9.4% for group II; P < .001), but causes were similar.

CONCLUSION

Hyperprolactinemia is not rare in young women with menstruation-related problems; its prevalence varies according to age and manifestations.