Prolactinoma begins with a tumor in the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is a part of the brain that controls the production of many hormones, including prolactin (a hormone that controls the production of breast milk). When prolactinoma tumors develop, it causes too much prolactin, which may lead to a decrease in the levels of sex hormones (estrogen in women and testosterone in men) in the body. As a result, women may experience irregular menstrual periods or a total stop to menstrual periods. Women may also start producing breast milk, even if they're not pregnant or nursing. Both men and women may experience low bone density, low sex drive, and infertility. Depending on the size of the tumor, it may start pressing on the optic nerve and can cause headaches and problems with vision.
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