A woman with milky nipple discharge and elevated serum prolactin levels is likely to also experience which symptom?

The presence of milky nipple discharge alongside elevated levels of serum prolactin is indicative of hyperprolactinemia. Prolactin plays a significant role in regulating the menstrual cycle, and elevated levels can interfere with normal ovarian function.

One of the common symptoms associated with high prolactin levels is amenorrhea, which is the absence of menstruation. This results from the hormonal disruption caused by increased prolactin, leading to decreased levels of estrogen and progesterone, which are essential for a regular menstrual cycle.

Women with hyperprolactinemia often experience disruptions in their menstrual cycles, which can include not only amenorrhea but also irregular bleeding patterns. However, amenorrhea is a prominent symptom, as the suppression of the menstrual cycle is a direct result of high prolactin levels affecting the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.

Other options present different symptoms that may not directly correlate with hyperprolactinemia in the same way. For instance, hot flashes are typically associated with menopause or estrogen deficiency, menorrhagia refers to heavy menstrual bleeding which is not directly linked to elevated prolactin, and oligomenorrhea describes infrequent menstruation but does not indicate the absence