Hyperprolactinemia Treatment Cost in Germany

The cost of Hyperprolactinemia treatment in Germany typically ranges from $2,500 to $22,000 USD, depending on the hospital, city, and type of procedure.

Hyperprolactinaemia means there is too much of the hormone prolactin in the blood. It is often caused by a non-cancerous pituitary tumour called a prolactinoma. In Germany, the total depends on:

• Blood tests: repeated prolactin measurements.
• MRI scan: of the pituitary gland.
• Medicine: cabergoline tablets once or twice a week.
• Heart scans: echocardiograms during long-term treatment.

Tests and medicine cost far less than this range, which mainly reflects surgery in rare cases.

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust explains that prolactin is made by the pituitary gland, and a prolactinoma is a group of cells producing too much of it. Cabergoline, a tablet taken once or twice a week, lowers prolactin and can shrink a prolactinoma.

Treatment starts at a low dose. Side effects include dizziness, nausea and headache, and very rarely heart valve damage or impulsive behaviour, so an echocardiogram is done before and during long-term use.

Prolactin blood tests and repeat MRI scans check the response. Some people go into remission after about two years, and fertility often returns quickly once prolactin falls.

Cabergoline is avoided while breastfeeding. Alternatives include no treatment, hormone treatment or pituitary surgery.

International patients usually come to Germany for an endocrine assessment and MRI, while cabergoline and blood tests continue at home. International patients are usually treated in Germany as self-paying patients: the hospital reviews the medical reports, sends a cost estimate and asks for an advance payment before admission, then settles the final bill after discharge.