Hyperprolactinaemia and galactorrhoea with combined oral contraceptive pill use: A refresher

Abstract

CASE A woman aged 24 years with no past pregnancies presented with a nine-month history of bilateral nipple discharge during the week after her period, which was associated with occasional severe headaches without visual disturbance. She was otherwise well with no medical history and only on 500 μg norethisterone–35 μg ethinyloestradiol combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP), which she had started six months prior to the onset of symptoms. A pregnancy test was negative, and there were no signs of bilateral breast tissue infection. No abnormalities were detected during the breast examination. Her repeated blood tests showed hyperprolactinaemia (1210 mIU/L and 855 mIU/L) with a normal macroprolactin level.