What is Prolactin Hormone?

Prolactin is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland present at the brain’s base. It is best known for its role in lactation, or milk production, in breastfeeding women.

However, Prolactin also plays other important roles in both men and women, such as regulating the immune system, stimulating the growth of new blood vessels, and influencing behaviour and reproductive function.

In this blog, we will explore what Prolactin is, how it works, and what happens when there are imbalances in prolactin levels.

• What is Prolactin Hormone?

Prolactin is a hormone that’s released by the Pituitary gland. Its basic function is milk secretion in lactating mothers. But it’s also known as Stress  Hormone.

So if you are undergoing any stress, the Pituitary gland starts secreting the Prolactin hormone. The normal value of Prolactin is 20 ng/ml. But if the value of Prolactin is more than 20 ng/ml, the condition is called Hyperprolactinemia.

Book An Appointment

Follow Us On

• When will a doctor recommend a Prolactin Hormone test?

A doctor might recommend this test if your periods are irregular or having discharge through the breast. Moreover, a doctor might also recommend this test if you are facing difficulty in conceiving.

• What are the reasons for higher Prolactin levels?

There are a multitude of reasons that might lead to higher Prolactin levels. Here’s the list of some:

1. Stress level: As mentioned above, Prolactin is a stress hormone. So if your test results reveal that your Prolactin level is a borderline elevated level, it can be due to the higher stress levels during the test.

    

2. In such cases, we at Gunjan IVF perform the Pool Prolactin test. In this test, we take a patient’s blood samples 3 times at the interval of 15 minutes each. If your Prolactin level is higher due to stress, the Pool test helps us derive the actual Prolactin value, resulting in an accurate diagnosis.

    

3.  Antacid or Antidepressant tablets: Antacid or Antidepressant tablets tend to increase Prolactin levels in the body. So if you are taking these tablets and your reports show borderline elevated Prolactin levels, it might be due to these tablets.

    

4. In such cases, we recommend this test again after stopping this tablet.

    

5. Hypothyroidism: If the thyroid levels in your body are low, i.e. you have hypothyroidism, it can raise your Prolactin levels. So, in general, if a patient gets borderline elevated levels during the test, we perform a thyroid test along with the Pool Prolactin test.

    

6. If the thyroid test reveals high TSH levels, it might lead to an abnormal Prolactin level. In such cases, your Prolactin level will come down if you are able to bring  your Thyroid levels back to normal.

    

7. Tumour in Pituitary Gland: If your Prolactin levels are very high, i.e. above 100 ng/ml, there is a possibility that you might have a tumour in your Pituitary gland.

    

8. In such cases, we immediately send the patient for MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) for further diagnosis. This MRI can be very helpful in identifying any tumour present in the brain.

   Now, let’s look at the symptoms of high Prolactin Levels.

• Symptoms of High Prolactin Levels

The higher level of Prolactin might not have any signs or symptoms. But some patients might experience:

1.   Discharge in the Breast Milk
2. Irregular periods due to irregular ovulation
3. Inability to conceive
4. Headache. Blurred Vision (if there is a tumour in the pituitary gland)

• What do you think if your Prolactin levels are high?

If you are being diagnosed with high Prolactin levels, first of all, do not stress yourself. It’s important to identify the root cause of higher prolactin levels.

 It’s possible that you might have given the sample in a stressful environment. So, first of all, get yourself tested again with a Pool Prolactin Test.

In case you are taking any antacids or antidepressants, that too might spike your Prolactin levels. Even higher thyroid levels, too, might lead to higher Prolactin levels.

Managing these medications or thyroid levels can bring down your Prolactin levels.

But if your Prolactin levels are extremely high, it can be due to a tumour in your Pituitary gland. In such cases, you should consult your doctor. They may recommend surgery or other treatment alternatives.

We hope this blog has offered you much-needed information about the Prolactin Hormone. If you are being diagnosed with higher Prolactin levels, we understand your emotions. But feeling too stressed might worsen the situation.

So the right approach is to consult a specialist and get the right guidance. If you need more information, we are always here to assist.