To help investigate unexplained flow of breast milk (galactorrhea), abnormal nipple discharge, absence of menstrual periods, and/or infertility in women; in men, to help diagnose the cause of decreased libido and/or erectile dysfunction; to detect and monitor a prolactin-producing pituitary tumor (prolactinoma)
Prolactin
Prolactin
Also Known As
PRL
Formal Name
Prolactin
This article was last reviewed
on
This article waslast modified
on December 21, 2018.
At a Glance
Why Get Tested?
When To Get Tested?
When you have symptoms of elevated prolactin, such as galactorrhea and/or visual disturbances and headaches; during a workup for infertility; for follow-up of low testosterone in men; periodically to monitor for recurrence of a prolactinoma
Sample Required?
A blood sample drawn from a vein in your arm
Test Preparation Needed?
None; however, the sample should be collected 3 to 4 hours after waking.
Accordion Title
Common Questions
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How is it used?
Prolactin levels may be used for several reasons. Prolactin is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland and its primary role is to help initiate and maintain breast milk production in pregnant and nursing women.
Prolactin testing may be used, along with other hormone tests, to help:
- Determine the cause of breast milk production not associated with pregnancy or breast-feeding (galactorrhea)
- Diagnose the cause of infertility and erectile dysfunction in men
- Diagnose the cause of menstrual irregularities and/or infertility in women
- Detect and diagnose tumors that produce excess prolactin (prolactinomas), monitor their treatment, and detect recurrences
- Evaluate anterior pituitary function or other pituitary disorder
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When is it ordered?
Prolactin testing may be ordered when:
- A person has symptoms of a prolactinoma, such as unexplained headaches, visual impairment, and/or unexplained breast nipple discharge
- A woman is experiencing infertility or irregular menstrual periods
- A man has symptoms such as decreased sex drive (libido), nipple discharge, or infertility or has a low testosterone level
When a person has a prolactinoma, prolactin levels may be ordered periodically to monitor the progress of the tumor and its response to treatment. They may also be ordered at regular intervals to monitor for prolactinoma recurrence.
Prolactin levels may be ordered, along with other hormone levels such as growth hormone, when a health practitioner suspects that a person has a pituitary disorder such as hypopituitarism.
When a person has a condition or is taking medications that may affect dopamine production, prolactin concentrations may sometimes be monitored.
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What does the test result mean?
Men and non-pregnant women will normally have only small amounts of prolactin in their blood. 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 morning. Ideally, a person's blood sample should be drawn 3 to 4 hours after waking.
A high level of prolactin (hyperprolactinemia) is normal during pregnancy and after childbirth while the mother is nursing.
A high level may also be seen with:
- Tumors that produce and release prolactin (prolactinomas)
- The eating disorder anorexia nervosa
- Diseases of the hypothalamus
- Hypothyroidism
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Other pituitary diseases and tumors
Levels of prolactin that are below normal are not usually treated but may be indicative of a general decrease in pituitary hormones caused by a pituitary disorder such as hypopituitarism.
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Is there anything else I should know?
Stress from illness, chest wall trauma, seizures, lung cancer, and use of marijuana can cause moderate increases in prolactin.
Drugs that can cause an elevated prolactin include estrogen, tricyclic antidepressants, risperidone, opiates, amphetamines, hypertension drugs (reserpine, verapamil, methyldopa) and some drugs that are used to treat gastroesophageal reflux (cimetidine). Nipple stimulation may cause a moderate increase in prolactin blood level.
Low prolactin levels may be caused by drugs such as dopamine, levodopa, and ergot alkaloid derivatives.
Prolactinomas are often small. Along with prolactin levels, a health practitioner may do an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) of the brain to locate and determine the size of the tumor as well as the size of the pituitary gland.
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What other tests may be done to evaluate an elevated prolactin?
Other tests that may be done include testosterone (levels will usually be low in a male when prolactin is high), FSH, and LH (to help evaluate ovulation and fertility), an MRI of the brain (to show pituitary enlargement and help locate a tumor), and an eye examination (to evaluate visual disturbances). Elevated prolactin levels require further laboratory tests to ensure that the elevation is not due to macroprolactin (see Question 4).
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If I have an elevated prolactin, why is my doctor testing my thyroid?
Increased levels of prolactin are often seen in people with hypothyroidism (although they do not cause it). If you have hyperprolactinemia, your doctor will most likely test you for hypothyroidism.
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How are prolactinomas treated?
Prolactinomas may be treated with medications that act like dopamine (such as bromocriptine or cabergoline) to decrease prolactin production. Treatment can reduce prolactin levels and symptoms and restore fertility, but the medications may have to be taken for several months or years. Surgery is sometimes necessary if the prolactinomas are large or not responding to treatment. This surgery is delicate and requires an experienced surgeon. Sometimes, despite medication and/or surgery, the prolactinoma recurs.
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What is macroprolactin?
A number of otherwise healthy people have elevated prolactin levels because some of the prolactin in their blood is in a different form called macroprolactin. Macroprolactin is prolactin that is bound to a protein (immunoglobulin), is not active in the body, and does not indicate the presence of disease. If an elevated prolactin is found, further laboratory tests may be done to make sure that this is not due to macroprolactin.