Lisa Fasone, a 32-year-old from McHenry, Illinois, underwent brain surgery at Northwestern Medicine after a pituitary tumor disrupted her fertility, according to a June 1 announcement. Following the birth of her first child in 2022, Fasone experienced persistent postpartum hormonal symptoms such as night sweats, continued lactation, lack of menstrual cycle, and infertility. Bloodwork showed elevated prolactin levels—an issue initially managed with medication. However, when her symptoms returned and stopped responding to treatment by winter 2023, further imaging revealed a prolactinoma on her pituitary gland.
Fasone said she was uncomfortable continuing medication due to insufficient safety data for pregnancy: “The medication isn’t well studied for pregnancy,” she said. “I just didn’t feel comfortable trying to have a baby without good data to suggest it was safe. If you get pregnant, you must stop the medication right away because there’s no data to suggest it’s safe and if you stop taking the medication, there’s a chance the tumor could get worse. I was not comfortable accepting that risk.”
After exhausting conservative treatments and facing ongoing symptoms, Fasone decided on surgical intervention. She consulted with endocrinologists Vijay Eranki and Wenyu Huang before being referred to neurosurgeon Stephen Magill at Northwestern Medicine for removal of the tumor. Magill said, “While removing a tumor on the pituitary gland is a common operation, removing one for a prolactinoma, like Lisa’s case, is less common... We carefully counseled Lisa on the risks and benefits of the procedure... We were hopeful her hormone levels would return to normal.”
On April 14, 2025, Fasone underwent brain surgery performed by Magill with assistance from otolaryngologist Kevin Welch, who accessed her brain through her nose. Within weeks post-surgery she regained her menstrual cycle and became pregnant; she later gave birth to daughter Natalie in February.
“Dr. Magill really gave me my life back,” Fasone said. “I was able to get off the medication, my body returned to normal and I was able to complete my family.” She will continue regular imaging every six to twelve months as follow-up care.
Northwestern Medicine aims to provide world-class care through patient-focused missions including clinical care as well as education and research; it functions under parent organization Northwestern Memorial HealthCare led by President and CEO Howard B. Chrisman; its programs are nationally recognized for physician well-being initiatives and humanitarian awards honoring community service; it also engages in strategic collaborations supporting clinical research efforts, according to the official website.
