Serum prolactin assay in secondary amenorrhea and infertility

Amenorrhea is the absence or abnormal cessation of the menses. Secondary amenorrhea is defined as the absence of menses for a length of time equivalent to a total of at least 3 of previous cycle intervals or 6 months of amenorrhea. Recent advances in reproductive endocrinology has incriminated the anterior pitutory polypeptide hormone prolactin (PRL), in pathogenesis of anovulation in amenorrhea galactorrhea syndrome. The study was undertaken to estimate the serum prolactin level by ELISA technique to evaluate prolactin status in patients with secondary amenorrhea. Two groups of female comprising of 50 secondary amenorrhea cases as study group and 50 normal menstruating females as control were thoroughly examined and subjected to investigations for prolactin factor. Study showed that PRL levels should be kept in consideration during the diagnosis and management of secondary amenorrhea as the PRL values were found to be significant (22%). The estimation should be done in cases with H/o anovulation, infertility, secondary amenorrhea and abnormal menses. Thus the role of endocrinological PRL evaluation by ELISA appears to be a very sound and plausible answer for evaluation.