Prolactin analysis reveals health problems for men and women

A prolactin test (PRL) measures the amount of a hormone called prolactin (the "milk hormone") in your blood. The hormone is formed in the pituitary gland, which is located just below your brain. When a woman is pregnant or has just given birth, her prolactin levels increase so that she can produce breast milk. It is possible to have high levels of prolactin if you are not pregnant, and even if you are a man, according to a webmed report.

A doctor may order a prolactin test when women have some of the following symptoms

Irregular or irregular menstrual periods, infertility, secretions of breast milk when you are not pregnant or breastfeeding, menopausal symptoms.

Symptoms that appear on men that require analysis of prolactin

 

Breast milk production (very rare), unexplained headaches, vision problems

Causes of abnormal high prolactin levels

 

Men and non-pregnant women usually have small traces of prolactin in their blood when you have high levels. This could be due to:

Prolactinoma is a benign tumor of the pituitary gland that produces too much prolactin.

Diseases affecting the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that controls the pituitary gland.

Anorexia .

Medicines used to treat depression, psychosis and high blood pressure.

Injury or irritation to chest scars, shingles, or even a very tight bra.

Kidney disease, liver failure, and polycystic ovary syndrome can affect a hormonal imbalance that affects the ovaries on the body's ability to remove prolactin.

How is the test done

You do not need to make any special preparations for a prolactin test. A blood sample will be taken from the laboratory or hospital. The laboratory worker will insert a needle into a vein in your arm to draw a small amount of blood.

The normal range for prolactin in the blood is:

 

Males: 2 to 18 nanograms per milliliter (nanogram / mL)

Non-pregnant females: 2 to 29 ng / mL

Pregnant females: 10 to 209 ng / ml

Elevated prolactin levels

 

If your value falls outside the normal range, this does not automatically mean that you have a problem sometimes, levels can be higher if you have eaten or were under extreme stress when you had your blood test done, also, what is considered a normal range may vary depending on which laboratory Your doctor uses it.

If your levels are very high, up to 1,000 times the upper limit of what is considered normal, this could be a sign that you have a prolactinoma This tumor is not cancerous, and is usually treated with medications in this case, your doctor may want an MRI.

Low levels of the hormone prolactin

 

If your prolactin levels are below normal, this may mean that the pituitary gland is not working at its full potential. This is known as hypopituitarism. Low levels of prolactin usually do not need medical treatment.