---
title: Can a hormone test predict which women will respond to bromocriptine for cyclical breast pain?
description: Yes. Women with an abnormal prolactin response to a hormone test were much more likely to improve with bromocriptine than those with normal response (73.6% ve
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/prolactin-response-to-thyrotropin-releasing-hormone-as-a-guideline-for-cyclical-1997/
---

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- Can a hormone test predict which women will respond to bromocriptine for cyclical breast pain?

Guideline, 1997

# Can a hormone test predict which women will respond to bromocriptine for cyclical breast pain?

Yes. Women with an abnormal prolactin response to a hormone test were much more likely to improve with bromocriptine than those with normal response (73.6% versus 23.5%).

 Early or limited evidence

36 women (mean age 26 years) with moderate-to-severe cyclical breast pain

## What they did

36 women with moderate-to-severe cyclical breast pain received a TRH hormone test to measure their prolactin response. Based on whether their response was normal or abnormal, they were treated with either bromocriptine or progesterone with anti-inflammatory medication.

## What they found

Bromocriptine 2.5 mg twice daily for 3 to 6 months was effective in 73.6% of patients with abnormal prolactin response and only 23.5% with normal response. Among patients with normal response or who did not respond to bromocriptine, 76.9% had a favorable response to progesterone and NSAIDs.

## What it means for you

A simple TRH hormone test might help predict which women with cyclical breast pain will benefit from bromocriptine, potentially saving time and medication costs. The study was small with only 36 women, so results need confirmation in larger studies before this approach could be widely recommended.

36

women with cyclical breast pain

73.6%

response rate to bromocriptine with abnormal test

23.5%

response rate to bromocriptine with normal test

## About the study

Original title Prolactin response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone as a guideline for cyclical mastalgia treatment Authors Rea N, Bove F, Gentile A et al. Journal Minerva medica Year 1997 Study design Guideline What was tested TRH hormone test to guide treatment with bromocriptine or progesterone with NSAIDs Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9433398/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9433398/)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Bloating, breast tenderness and physical symptoms](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-physical-symptoms/)[Diuretics and other drugs](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diuretics-other-drugs/)

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Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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