Prolactin is the hormone responsible for stimulating the mammary glands to produce breastfeeding during lactation, so the high level of prolactin in the blood could be a sign of pregnancy, so a pregnancy test may be indicated to understand it. to production during pregnancy, prolactin is also responsible for regulating other hormones involved in ovulation and menstruation.
However, in some cases, increased prolactin in the blood may occur from the use of certain drugs or the occurrence of endocrine changes, perhaps changes involving the gland responsible for the production of this hormone.
- Prolactin reference values may vary depending on the accuracy of the laboratory in which it is performed and the method used.
- So it is important to pay attention to the reference values indicated in the test result.
- In general.
- The prolactin reference values are:.
When prolactin is greater than 100 ng/ml, this results in a more common use of drugs or microtumors, and when the values are greater than 250 ng/ml, it is probably a larger tumor.
If there is a tumor tumor, your doctor may choose to repeat the prolactin test every 6 months for 2 years, after which only one test is done to check for changes.
High levels of prolactin may be related to different situations such as breastfeeding, intense physical activity, accumulated sweating and psychological stress, breast stimulation, polycystic ovary syndrome, use of antidepressant medications such as fluoxetine, e. g. anticonvulsant medications, anesthesia, allergy, high pressure, estrogen, mares, primary hypothyroidism and head or chest surgery or trauma in these places.
In addition, it may also be related to Addison’s disease or diseases such as acromegaly, pituitary or adenoma, the presence of a tumor in the brain, or head exposure to radiation.
In women about 30% of cases of increase in prolactin, not related to breastfeeding, by polycystic ovary syndrome, due to the presence of a small tumor of less than 10 mm. Diameter, which very rarely increases in size and can never be seen on an MRI Learn more about the symptoms and treatment of polycystic ovaries.
In cases of high prolactin in women, symptoms such as
In men, an increase in prolactin can cause symptoms such as:
Other common symptoms in women and men are headaches and visual changes. Learn more about increased prolactin in men.
Treatment to normalize prolactin values is indicated when symptoms are unpleasant and compromise the individual’s life.
In cases where the cause of drug use is caused, your doctor should be consulted to check for the possibility of changing the medicine being ingested to one that does not interfere with prolactin.
It’s also important to start treatment when you seem embarrassed to fall, but this hasn’t been possible due to an infertility problem. Some reports may be sent with values of 50 to 60 ng/ml, but it may be necessary to reduce these values with the use of medications, as a high prolactin increases the risk of miscarriage.
When causing a tumor, treatment should be performed with a drug such as cabergoline and bromocriptine, which normally reduces its size, in about 2 years and rarely requires surgery, as it is indicated only for aggressive radiation therapy. malignant tumors.
To perform the most correct prolactin test, you should follow certain precautions, such as taking blood samples for at least 1 hour after waking up and taking the medicine.
Normally, a test is all it takes to identify changes in prolactin, but when the result is 20 to 60 ng/ml, your doctor may want to perform another test to confirm the values.