Lisa Fasone’s Journey Through Prolactinoma and New Parenthood

Lisa Fasone and her partner wanted two children. Her pregnancy in 2021 brought hope. Their daughter was born in February 2022.

Adjusting as a family of three, Fasone experienced postpartum symptoms. Night sweats and headaches persisted. She blamed breastfeeding and hormonal shifts. Her period was absent, and pregnancy attempts failed. By her daughter’s second birthday, concern grew.

“OK, it’s been a year since I stopped nursing, and I still feel awful,” Fasone, age 32, said. “Something was wrong, and I kept dismissing it. But after a year, I decided to act.”

Fasone consulted her OB-GYN. Tests revealed high prolactin levels, a hormone from the pituitary gland. Prolactin affects fertility and milk production. Changes in prolactin during pregnancy are normal, but her levels hadn’t normalized.

A small benign tumor, a prolactinoma, was found on her pituitary gland. It caused her symptoms by producing excess hormones. Surgery for such tumors is rare, noted Dr. Stephen McGill, a neurosurgeon at Northwestern University. Typically, oral medication resolves it by shrinking the tumor.

Lisa Fasone started medication but soon faced severe dizziness. Worst was delaying efforts for a second child. The medication wasn’t pregnancy-safe, and high prolactin complicated conception.

Watching her toddler play alone sparked worries. “You know someone who faced infertility, but it’s surprising when you’re affected,” she said. “I had to accept maybe having one child.”

A year later, a follow-up scan showed alarming tumor growth. It reached pea-size on a blueberry-sized gland, prompting surgery as an option due to tumor growth, side effects, and fertility concerns. Surgery posed risks like further fertility issues, said McGill. For Fasone, the surgery was worth it, offering hope for a complete cure and freedom from medication.

“I had no choice; I couldn’t live as I’d imagined,” Fasone said. “I chose surgery for a normal life and a completed family.”

Fasone underwent a minimally invasive procedure through the nose in April 2025. The next day, her prolactin levels normalized post-tumor removal. Her first period in nearly four years soon followed. However, her rising prolactin levels worried her until a pregnancy test revealed she was pregnant.

“I was shocked. The process and experience were traumatic,” Fasone said. “But it was exciting and rewarding.”

Fasone’s second child, another daughter, arrived in February 2026. The pregnancy was typical, said McGill, and her prolactin levels normalized. Breastfeeding went well, and her first child enjoys being a big sister. Back at work, she earned a doctorate of medical science. Amid change, Fasone felt grateful.

Regular monitoring of Fasone’s prolactin levels will ensure hormone health, and she will receive annual MRIs for five years, said McGill.

Lisa Fasone looks forward to less time in doctor’s offices. She now focuses on her completed family and recalls her path from scheduling brain surgery a year ago to now: “Having my baby in February, I remember last year’s brain surgery schedule.” Returning to work post-maternity leave reminded her of post-surgery job return. “The past year changed so much, yet I’m grateful for my incredible journey,” Fasone said.