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A prolactinoma is a benign tumor (adenoma) of the pituitary gland that produces a hormone called prolactin. It is the most common type of pituitary tumor. Symptoms of prolactinoma are too much prolactin in the blood (hyperprolactinemia), or those caused by pressure of the tumor on surrounding tissues. Prolactin stimulates the breast to produce milk, and has many other functions such as regulation of mood. Hence prolactin levels are usually higher during pregnancy and after childbirth. After delivery of a baby, a mother's prolactin levels come down to normal a few weeks after breastfeeding is discontinued. Each time the milk is dispensed, prolactin levels rise; this process may cycle to maintain milk production. In males it is responsible for the sexual refractory period after orgasm and excess levels can lead to erectile dysfunction. Based on size, a prolactinoma can be classified as a ''microprolactinoma'' (<10 mm diameter) or ''macroprolactinoma'' (>10 mm diameter). == Signs and symptoms == The symptoms due to a prolactinoma are broadly divided into those that are caused by increased prolactin levels or mass effect. Those that are caused by increased prolactin levels are: * No periods * Milk production (infrequent in men) * Loss of axillary and pubic hair * Small gonads, gynecomastia, erectile dysfunction (in males) Those that are caused by mass effect are: * Bitemporal hemianopsia (due to pressure on optic chiasm) * Vertigo * Nausea, vomiting 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「prolactinoma」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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