[Prolactinoma and pregnancy]

Abstract

The problem of pregnancy in women affected by prolactinosecreting adenoma has been evaluated and tackled in a variety of different ways over the course of the past twenty years. The early years were marked by an alarmist attitude which saw pregnancy as a considerable risk due to the expansion of the hypophyseal tumour, and women were advised against pregnancy or even to abort. Later, this was superceded by cautious observation and close monitoring. Recently, and above all with reference to microadenomas, there is a growing belief that pregnancy does not represent a real risk but can even lead to the definitive remission of hyperprolactinemia in a certain percentage of women.