Hyperprolactinemia induces hypogonadism by inhibiting gonadotropin-releasing hormone pulsatile secretion and, consequently,
follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and testosterone pulsatility. This leads to spermatogenic arrest, impaired
motility, and sperm quality and results in morphologic alterations of the testes similar to those observed in prepubertal
testes. Men with hyperprolactinemia present more frequently with a macroadenoma than a microadenoma. Symptoms directly related
to hypogonadism are prevalent. In men hypogonadism leads to impaired libido, erectile dysfunction, diminished ejaculate volume,
and oligospermia. It is present in 16% of patients with erectile dysfunction and in approx 11% of men with oligospermia. Treatment
with bromocriptine or cabergoline (CAB) is effective in men with prolactinomas, with a response that is in general comparable
to treatment in women. Seminal fluid abnormalities rapidly improve with CAB treatment, while other dopaminergic compounds
require longer periods of treatment. Moreover, to improve gonadal function in men, the integrity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal
axis is necessary. New promising data indicate that a substantial proportion of patients with either micro- or macroprolactinoma
do not present hyperprolactinemia after long-term withdrawal from CAB. Whether this corresponds to a definitive cure is still
unknown, but treat-ment withdrawal should be attempted in patients achieving normalization of prolactin levels and disappearance
of tumor mass to investigate this issue.
Key Words Pituitary - gender - prolactin - prolactinomas - hyperprolactinemia - cabergoline