ORIGINAL PAPER
Prolactin secretion pattern among female flight attendants
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Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
(First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology)
Online publication date: 2020-12-16
Corresponding author
Małgorzata Radowicka
Medical University of Warsaw, First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, pl. Starynkiewicza 1/3, 02-015, Warsaw, Poland
Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2021;34(3):351-61
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ABSTRACT
Objectives: Epidemiological observations indicate that female flight attendants are exposed to some reproductive and endocrine system disturbances.
The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of hyperprolactinemia among female flight attendants, and to identify factors affecting the secretion
of prolactin in female flight attendants working within 1 time zone as well as on long-distance flights. Material and Methods: The cross-sectional
study covered 103 women aged 23–46 years. The study group (I) was divided into 2 subgroups: subgroup Ia comprising female flight attendants flying
within 1 flight zone, and subgroup Ib composed of female flight attendants working on long-distance flights. The control group (II) included women
of reproductive age who sought medical assistance due to marital infertility in whom the male factor was found to be responsible for problems with
conception in the course of the diagnostic process. The assessment included: age, the body mass index, menstrual cycle regularity, the length of service,
the frequency of flying, the prolactin, estradiol and progesterone concentrations, and the result of endometrial biopsy. Descriptive and inferential
statistics methods were used to compile the data. Results: The incidence of hyperprolactinemia in the female flight attendants (46%) was significantly
higher than in the control group (9%), p < 0.001. Differences between subgroups Ia and Ib regarding individual concentrations were not statistically
significant (p = 0.425). Hyperprolactinemia among the female flight attendants working ≥15 years is present slightly more often than in those working
<15 years: 46% vs. 45% (p > 0.05). No significant difference was revealed in the secretion of prolactin between the study participants spending
<60 h/month flying and those spending ≥60 h/month flying (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Hyperprolactinemia is more common in female flight attendants
than in the general population. High values of prolactin concentration in flight attendants are rarely manifested in clinical symptoms. The frequency
of flying and the length of service do not affect the development of hyperprolactinemia or the mean prolactin concentration. Int J Occup Med Environ
Health. 2021;34(3):351–61