Premenopausal bleeding associated with hyperprolactinaemia.

A sample of 54 climacteric women (mean age 48.1 years) being treated for premenopausal bleeding was assessed. The mean serum prolactin value was 23.04 ng/ml. A separate group of 28 hyperprolactinaemic patients showing a mean level of 34.43 mg/ml was compared. No abnormalities of the sella turcica at skull X-ray examination were disclosed. Predominant anovulatory bleeding was found in the endometrial tissue specimens obtained by curettage. The mean serum prolactin level of the climacteric women was significantly increased in comparison with that of 35 healthy women with normal menstrual cycle (P < 0.001). An influence of age on serum prolactin levels in women was found (r = 0.406). Similar results were not reported until now, although this study does not help to explain exactly the role of elevated prolactin level in climacteric impairment of ovarian function.