How do you know if you have high prolactin levels?

Some women have high prolactin levels without any symptoms. In men, high prolactin levels can cause galactorrhea, impotence (inability to have an erection during sex), reduced desire for sex, and infertility. A man with untreated hyperprolactinemia may make less sperm or no sperm at all.

What are the symptoms of high prolactin levels?

Symptoms include irregular or absent menstrual periods, infertility, menopausal symptoms (hot flashes and vaginal dryness), and, after several years, osteoporosis (thinning and weakening of the bones). High prolactin levels can also cause milk discharge from the breasts.

How do you check your prolactin levels?

A lab worker will insert a needle into a vein in your arm to take out a small amount of blood. Some people feel just a little sting. Others might feel moderate pain and see slight bruising afterwards. After a few days, you'll get the results of your prolactin test in the form of a number.

What causes prolactin to be high in females?

Hyperprolactinemia means you have higher-than-normal levels of prolactin in your blood. The most common cause is a prolactinoma, a benign (noncancerous) tumor in your pituitary gland. Certain health conditions and medications can also cause hyperprolactinemia.

How is high prolactin diagnosed?

A blood test is used to detect high levels of prolactin. After confirming the prolactinoma diagnosis, your doctor may conduct other tests to find out if the tumor is affecting other hormones. Depending on the tumor's size, your doctor may also ask you to take a vision test.

Hyperprolactinemia (High Prolactin Levels) | Causes, Signs

Does prolactin cause weight gain?

High levels of prolactin can also result in weight gain and neuropsychological disturbances.

What happens when prolactin levels are high in females?

Excess prolactin can cause the production of breast milk in men and in women who are not pregnant or breastfeeding. In women, too much prolactin can also cause menstrual problems and infertility (the inability to get pregnant). In men, it can lead to lower sex drive and erectile dysfunction (ED).

Can I get pregnant with high prolactin?

Too much prolactin can also inhibit the secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) — the hormone that stimulates the ovarian follicles to mature. Without FSH, there's no ovulation — and without ovulation, it's impossible to get pregnant.

Can high prolactin be cured?

Dopamine agonists such as bromocriptine (Parlodel and Cycloset) are the most common treatment for high levels of prolactin. These medications help the brain produce dopamine to control high prolactin levels. They can also shrink prolactinoma tumors. Your doctor may recommend that you take cabergoline.

Does PCOS cause high prolactin?

Some women with PCOS do have elevated prolactin levels, typically falling within the 25-40 ng/ml range. ANDRO is a hormone that is produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands. Sometimes high levels of this hormone can affect estrogen and testosterone levels. Normal ANDRO levels are between 0.7 3.1 ng/ml.

How do you treat high prolactin levels?

The most commonly used medicines are cabergoline and bromocriptine. Your doctor will start you on a low dose of one of these medications and slowly increase the dose until your prolactin levels go back to normal. Treatment continues until your symptoms lessen or you get pregnant (if that is your goal).

When is the best time to check prolactin levels?

Prolactin levels do, however, need to be evaluated based on the time of day that they are collected. The levels will vary over a 24-hour period, rising during sleep and peaking in the early morning. Ideally, a person's blood sample should be drawn 3 to 4 hours after waking.

What should a woman prolactin level be?

Normal Results

The normal values for prolactin are: Men: less than 20 ng/mL (425 µg/L) Nonpregnant women: less than 25 ng/mL (25 µg/L) Pregnant women: 80 to 400 ng/mL (80 to 400 µg/L)

Does high prolactin make you tired?

Rarely, the prolactinoma may press on the rest of the pituitary gland, stopping it from producing other hormones. This can cause symptoms such as tiredness, fainting, low blood pressure, low blood sugar or collapse.

Can high prolactin make you emotional?

Patients with hyperprolactinemia often present with emotional difficulties. These occasionally persist even after successful treatment.

What does prolactin do in females?

Prolactin is a hormone released by the pituitary gland. The pituitary is a small gland at the base of the brain. It regulates the body's balance of many hormones. Prolactin stimulates breast development and milk production in women.

What happens if prolactin goes untreated?

Too much prolactin also can prevent the release of an egg during the menstrual cycle (anovulation) in females. In males, too much prolactin also can lead to decreased sperm production. Bone loss (osteoporosis). Reduced estrogen and testosterone also cause decreased bone strength.

Can stress cause high prolactin levels?

Prolactin levels also get higher during times of physical or emotional stress. Many medicines can cause prolactin levels to go up. Tumors of the pituitary gland can sometimes cause prolactin to be made. A damaged pituitary gland may not be able to make normal amounts of prolactin so levels will be lower.

Which medicine is best for high prolactin?

Cabergoline is used for the treatment high levels of prolactin in the blood, a condition known as hyperprolactinemia.

At what level does prolactin cause infertility?

Prolactin levels over 100 ng/mL can alter the normal function of a woman's reproductive system, causing symptoms of menopause (absence of menstrual periods, hot flashes, vaginal dryness) and infertility.

Is prolactin high during periods?

Serum prolactin levels were also significantly higher during the luteal phase than during early follicular phase. In some 70% of the individual cycles, the highest serum prolactin level was found at mid-cycle.

Does high prolactin mean infertility?

Prolactin affects fertility in women by hindering ovulation. For this reason, a woman who is breastfeeding may not have her periods. However, some women may have high levels of prolactin even though they are not breastfeeding. This can lead to infertility.

Does high prolactin cause facial hair in females?

Symptoms of Prolactinoma

For women, this causes symptoms such as: Irregular or no menstrual periods (amenorrhea) Acne. Increase or thickening of body hair and facial hair.

What happens if a pituitary tumor goes untreated?

Most pituitary tumors are curable, but if left untreated, they can lead to serious complications such as complete vision loss.

Does high prolactin cause hair loss?

Conclusion. Moderate elevated prolactin levels in association with diffuse or androgenetic hair loss can be neglected as causative for the hair loss because there is no evidence that they have an influence to the pattern, the extent or the duration of the hair loss.