Prolactin (PRL)

Prolactin Test Overview 

Prolactin (PRL) is a hormone in your blood. Its test helps detect its level. The pituitary gland makes this hormone in your body and it is normally present in women. However, it may also be present in the blood of some men.Most women have a higher level of prolactin when they are pregnant. But you may have it even if you are not pregnant. Your doctor will advise you to take a prolactin test based on your gender and the symptoms you display.

Prolactin Test Overview

Prolactin (PRL) is a hormone in your blood. Its test helps detect its level. The pituitary gland makes this hormone in your body and it is normally present in women. However, it may also be present in the blood of some men.Most women have a higher level of prolactin when they are pregnant. But you may have it even if you are not pregnant. Your doctor will advise you to take a prolactin test based on your gender and the symptoms you display.

When Should You Take a Prolactin Test? 

To a large extent, it will on both your gender and symptoms. Whether you are a man or a woman, some of your symptoms may be common to both genders. But the majority of them will be gender-specific. Taking a prolactin test is necessary for you if you are a woman and display the following symptoms: 

• Infertility
• No periods or irregular periods
• Tenderness in the breast
• Vaginal dryness or hot flashes
• The discharge of breast milk even if you are not pregnant

• Enlargement or tenderness of your breast
• Low sex drive
• Problems in achieving an erection
• Production of breast milk (a rare condition found in only a few men)

• Vision problems
• Unexplained headaches

What Causes a Spike in the Prolactin Levels in Your Blood?

Whether you are a man or a woman, your blood will have a low level of prolactin. If its level in your blood is unusual or very high, it could be due to the following reasons: 

• Diseased hypothalamus due to some diseases
• Prolactinoma
• Medications for high blood pressure, psychosis, and depression
• Eating disorder or anorexia
• Irritation or chest injury

Apart from the reasons listed above, a higher level of prolactin in your blood can also be a consequence of other medical conditions. These include the following: 

• Polycystic ovarian syndrome
• Liver failure
• Kidney disease

All these conditions can interfere with the ability of your body to expel prolactin. As a result, the level of prolactin may increase in your blood.

What is the Procedure for Taking a Prolactin Test? 

The procedure for this test is simple. That is to say, no special preparation is necessary for it. A person working at a lab will collect your blood sample through a needle. They will insert it into your arm to get draw blood. 

Following the insertion of the needle into your arm, you might feel a mild sting or moderate pain. Due to it, you may also see a small bruise on your arm later on. You can expect the results of your prolactin test within a few days from the day of sample collection. The result will be in the form of a number. 

If you see the following numbers in your test results, you have a normal level of prolactin: 

• Pregnant females: 2-18 ng/mL
• Nonpregnant females: 2-29 ng/mL
• Males: 2-18 ng/mL
• Pregnant women: 80-400 ng/mL 

How Does Prolactin Affect Your Body? 

Prolactin is essential for the development of breast tissue and lactation. In addition, it also helps with other body processes. The major portion of this hormone in your body is due to your pituitary gland. This pea-sized gland rests below the hypothalamus at the bottom of the brain. 

Apart from the hypothalamus, some other parts of your body can also produce prolactin in small amounts. Prominent among them are mammary glands and the uterus, your immune system, and your nervous system. The following lead to a spike in the level of prolactin in the body: 

• Stress
• Exercise
• Nipple stimulation

Prolactin plays a role in hundreds of your bodily functions. But its roles are prominent in the following two functions of your body:

• The production of milk and the progression of mammary glands
• Lactation and breastfeeding

What are Prolactinomas that Can Elevate the Levels of Prolactin in Your Body?

They are non-cancerous benign tumours that develop in the pituitary gland of your body. In the subsequent stages, these tumours elevate the concentration of prolactin in your blood.

Prolactinomas are rare in children and more common in individuals who are under 40. Further, those who are AFAB (assigned female at birth) have a greater likelihood of developing non-cancerous tumours than those who are AMAB (assigned male at birth). As is the case with children, prolactinomas are also less common among teenagers or adolescents.

In most cases, doctors prescribe medicines for the treatment of prolactinomas. However, advanced treatments like radiation therapy or surgery may be necessary to treat benign tumours in some individuals.

Could Tumours in the Pituitary Gland Elevate Prolactin Levels? 

Pituitary gland tumours that are large in size are directly linked with hyperprolactinemia. The latter results from the reduced level of dopamine in the body. Generally, dopamine prevents the release of prolactin. However, large-sized tumours can sometimes obstruct the flow of dopamine to the cells in your body that produce dopamine. It triggers hyperprolactinemia in your body. 

What Should You Do If You Have a High Level of Prolactin Your Body? 

This reason for the rise in the level of prolactin in your blood is easier to deal with in comparison to the other reasons for it. The higher levels of the hormone in your blood will return to the normal level if you stop taking a few medicinal drugs. 

However, you shouldn’t stop taking your prescribed medications. If you are not sure what to do, it would be the best idea to consult your doctor and take their advice. They will be able to give you the right piece of advice after assessing your condition.