Prolactin is a multifunctional hormone produced in the pituitary gland (a structure of the brain) that has a significant effect on reproductive function. By the way, this hormone is present in both women and men 👫 But today we’ll focus only on women.
High prolactin levels often cause concern because this hormone — or rather, its excess — can suppress ovulation, and also:
🔺 disrupts the menstrual cycle — it becomes irregular, periods may be scanty and short;
🔺 suppresses libido ➡️ sexual desire decreases, orgasm is absent;
🔺 sometimes causes galactorrhea — discharge from the breasts;
🔺 reduces hair on the head, armpits, and pubic area;
🔺 leads to weight gain;
🔺 causes menopause-like symptoms, hot flashes;
🔺 brings drowsiness, depression, and weakness.
➡️ If you have these symptoms, it’s better to do a hormone test and even better to see a doctor.
The normal prolactin level for a non-pregnant woman is considered to be 15–25 nanograms per milliliter of blood, but this hormone is quite “capricious” because it reacts sensitively to many factors. For example, prolactin can increase due to:
✔️ exercise or physical activity;
✔️ sex;
✔️ sleep;
✔️ stress;
✔️ eating;
✔️ nipple stimulation.
In reality, there are many reasons, so if you’re diagnosed with high prolactin, it’s often recommended to repeat the test to rule out a false result.
Apart from physiological hyperprolactinemia (persistent elevated prolactin), which we discussed earlier, there is also pathological hyperprolactinemia caused by:
🔺 pituitary tumor/various pituitary injuries, thyroid diseases;
🔺 drug-induced hyperprolactinemia from oral contraceptives, antihistamines, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, neuroleptics, opiates, narcotics;
🔺 hyperprolactinemia due to other diseases — hypothyroidism, PCOS, kidney/liver failure, alcoholism;
🔺 psychogenic hyperprolactinemia due to constant stress;
🔺 idiopathic — without a specific cause.
If you’d like, I can write a post with tips on how to prepare for a prolactin test 😌
Source
High prolactin levels often cause concern because this hormone — or rather, its excess — can suppress ovulation, and also:
🔺 disrupts the menstrual cycle — it becomes irregular, periods may be scanty and short;
🔺 suppresses libido ➡️ sexual desire decreases, orgasm is absent;
🔺 sometimes causes galactorrhea — discharge from the breasts;
🔺 reduces hair on the head, armpits, and pubic area;
🔺 leads to weight gain;
🔺 causes menopause-like symptoms, hot flashes;
🔺 brings drowsiness, depression, and weakness.
➡️ If you have these symptoms, it’s better to do a hormone test and even better to see a doctor.
The normal prolactin level for a non-pregnant woman is considered to be 15–25 nanograms per milliliter of blood, but this hormone is quite “capricious” because it reacts sensitively to many factors. For example, prolactin can increase due to:
✔️ exercise or physical activity;
✔️ sex;
✔️ sleep;
✔️ stress;
✔️ eating;
✔️ nipple stimulation.
In reality, there are many reasons, so if you’re diagnosed with high prolactin, it’s often recommended to repeat the test to rule out a false result.
Apart from physiological hyperprolactinemia (persistent elevated prolactin), which we discussed earlier, there is also pathological hyperprolactinemia caused by:
🔺 pituitary tumor/various pituitary injuries, thyroid diseases;
🔺 drug-induced hyperprolactinemia from oral contraceptives, antihistamines, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, neuroleptics, opiates, narcotics;
🔺 hyperprolactinemia due to other diseases — hypothyroidism, PCOS, kidney/liver failure, alcoholism;
🔺 psychogenic hyperprolactinemia due to constant stress;
🔺 idiopathic — without a specific cause.
If you’d like, I can write a post with tips on how to prepare for a prolactin test 😌
Source