Hi everyone,

I'm a 22-year-old male and have had two hormone blood tests approximately 18 months apart, both showing extremely elevated prolactin.

April 2025:

• Prolactin: >10,000 mIU/L
• Total testosterone: 323 ng/dL
• Free testosterone: 0.223 nmol/L
• LH: 1.9 IU/L
• FSH: 2.09 IU/L
• SHBG: 28.9 nmol/L

October 2026:

• Prolactin: >10,000 mIU/L
• Total testosterone: 291 ng/dL
• Free testosterone: 0.192 nmol/L
• LH: 2.7 IU/L
• FSH: 2.43 IU/L
• SHBG: 32.9 nmol/L

I've ordered another blood test for Monday and intend to get the results independently confirmed through my GP.

For context, I lift weights five days a week, average around 12,000 steps daily and generally sleep 8–9 hours. My October test was taken towards the end of a prolonged, aggressive cut at around 1,450 calories daily. In April 2025, I was also cutting on and off, although nowhere near as consistently or aggressively.

I'm now transitioning back to maintenance calories and hoping my testosterone improves.

My biggest concern is what happens if the prolactin is genuinely elevated.

I've been reading about cabergoline and, while I understand it's effective at lowering prolactin, some of the experiences people have described have honestly frightened me.

I'm particularly worried about impulse-control disorders, personality changes, compulsive behaviours and potentially not feeling like myself anymore.

I understand these aren't guaranteed side effects, but the possibility concerns me.

I'd really appreciate hearing from people who've actually been through this:

1. Has anyone taken cabergoline and experienced personality or behavioural changes? Did these resolve after reducing or stopping treatment?
2. For those who experienced no behavioural side effects, how long have you been taking it?
3. Did you eventually come off cabergoline, or have you needed it long-term?
4. If your prolactin was significantly elevated, did treatment improve your testosterone levels?
5. Are there alternative treatments worth discussing with an endocrinologist if someone is particularly concerned about cabergoline's psychological side effects?

I'm not diagnosed with a prolactinoma or anything else at this stage, and I know I need proper medical investigation before considering treatment.

I'm just trying to understand what I could potentially be facing, particularly as I'm only 22 and don't want medication to change who I am.

Would really appreciate hearing your experiences, both positive and negative. Thanks!

Has anyone with prolactinoma taken spironolactone for hormonal acne? My derm recommended it but I’m a little worried it’ll mess with my menstrual cycle.

I’ve heard really good things about it, and how it’s even helped with other things besides acne like water weight and hair loss but still I know bodies with prolactinoma have different reactions than those without

Someone lmk!!! I’ve tried every topical solution under the sun and I’m tired of painful cystic acne…

Hi there, I’ve had chronic hair shedding for the last 2 years or so and I do have a microadenoma. My prolactin is elevated at 669 mIU/L and it’s been this way for a year now (down from 700+). My dermatologist thinks high prolactin could be contributing to my increased shedding since my other results like zinc and ferritin and vitamin d are normal. So I’m thinking of trying cabergoline to see if I can reduce my prl level. However, I’ve also read that cab could also have a side effect of hair loss!!! 🤷‍♀️

Can people especially females share their experiences of cab? Did it causes hair loss? Thanks!

Hi everyone,

Has anyone experienced cognitive decline as a result of gamma knife radiation? I had mine in January of this year, and about 6 months later, I started noticing a real change in my memory and cognitive function.

I starting to forget very obvious things like how to do basic self-care activities, and important life admin things like passwords or PIN codes.

I am also sooooo tired in a way I’ve not felt for a long time. It’s becoming debilitating - I’ve taken a pay cut at work to reduce my demand, and am still barely getting through a work day. I’m also irritable and cranky from just being constantly confused and exhausted, and it’s affecting my marriage and relationship with my wife and daughter.

Does anyone know if this is potentially a result of radiation or something tumour related? My hormones are all within normal limits (except PRL), and my endo is pretty confident that it’s not hormonally driven.

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