Question Title: High Prolactin results, need Dr's help (sorry so long)

I am 28 and have had a regular 28 day cycle with my period with no problems except for headaches and heavy bleeding, accepted as part of my monthly cycle. Last month, I got my period, then after it left, I PMSed all over again, with terrible breast pain and awful mood swings and then spotted like 5 days later. I scheduled myself for a Pap. The day of the appt, I got my period again (only 2 weeks after the last period). The doctor did some test anyway, infection etc, then had blood work done. Thryoid is fine, I'm not pregnant (have no kids), had slight yeast infection. Then I went back a week later for my pap and when she checked me internally, she felt something on my left ovary. Scheduled a pelvic ultrasound/sonorgram? and a doc came in and said I had a cyst, about 2 cm in diameter then did a transvaginal sonogram that in fact confirmed I had a cyst. He said it's no big deal and it will probably dissapear on its own. Okay. So I asked about my mood swings (cause I still, after 3 weeks feel like I'm PMSing) and he said it was unrelated to the cyst. The doc that did my pap had me do blood work to check prolactin and said she didn't think anything would come back (meaning high) cause I don't get headaches. Well, I had to tell her of course that indeed I do, she just never asked. I've had them for years but noone has found any reasons. Migraines too. Anyway, the prolactin came back high, 50 something? I'm not sure. I didn't know what high meant. The doc also prescribed progesterone for me to take for 7 days that will make me bleed again and shed everything I have lingering inside. I have a follow up appt scheduled for about 3 weeks from now where a doctor will look at everything and make some decisions and where I'll ask a bunch of questions. In the meantime, I'm checking the internet and trying to educate myself on what a high prolactin means and so far I'm just getting scared. Is there anything anyone can tell me about any of this?

Thank you so much.

Dear O:
Prolactin is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland. It rises during pregnancy to prepare the breast for lactation. The levels rise during sleep, in response to breast stimulation (including a breast exam during a well-woman visit), recent carbohydrate meal, intercourse, stress, pain. Medications including anti-depressants and antihypertensives, some street drugs will cause elevations of prolactin. Low thyroid function, renal disease, polycystic ovary syndrome, and pituitary gland diseases are further causes for elevation.
A repeat measurement while fasting and without any breast examination along with a TSH (thyroid hormone measure) is often the starting point if there is no obvious reason why an elevated level has been found.

Keywords: prolactin

This informatin is provided for education purposes only and is not a medical consultation. If you have specific questions, please contact your physician.

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