Galactorrhea in DMPA users: incidence and clinical significance
Gongsakdi, D.; Rojanasakul, A.
Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand 69(1): 28-32
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0125-2208 PMID: 2937870 Document Number: 346143
This study was aimed at determining the frequency of breast secretions in users of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA). Study subjects included 97 parous family planning clinic attenders who were receiving 150 mg of DMPA intramuscularly every 12 weeks; controls included 40 women from the same clinic who were IUD users. Galactorrhea was observed in 64% of DMPA users compared with only 15% of controls--a significant difference. There was no difference in serum prolactin levels (PRL) in DMPA users with and without galactorrhea. All sella turcica x-rays performed on women with galactorrhea were normal. Normal PRL and sella turcica x-rays tend to rule out the possibility of a pituitary tumor as the cause of the galactorrhea. These findings suggest that galactorrhea is a common finding in multiparous DMPA users and has no clinical significance. On the other hand, yearly determination of PRL is advised for surveillance in DMPA users with galactorrhea. Also needed are more data on how long breast secretions persist after delivery and after DMPA discontinuation.