What causes prolactin to increase?

Its hormones help regulate important functions such as growth, metabolism, blood pressure and reproduction. Other possible causes of prolactin overproduction include medications, other types of pituitary tumors, an underactive thyroid gland, ongoing irritation to the chest, pregnancy and breast-feeding.

What are the symptoms of prolactin?

High Prolactin Level Symptoms

• Infertility.
• White milk leaking from nipples.
• Absent, infrequent, or irregular periods.
• Loss of libido.
• Painful or uncomfortable intercourse.
• Vaginal dryness.
• Acne.
• Excessive body and facial hair growth (hirsutism)

What causes high prolactin in females?

Causes of Abnormal Prolactin Levels Prolactinoma (a benign tumor in your pituitary gland that produces too much prolactin) Diseases affecting the hypothalamus(the part of the brain that controls the pituitary gland) Anorexia(an eating disorder) Drugs that are used to treat depression, psychosis, and high blood pressure.

How does prolactin affect the body?

High prolactin levels trigger the body to make milk for breastfeeding. In women who aren’t pregnant, prolactin helps regulate the menstrual cycle (periods). In men, prolactin affects sperm production.

What is the normal range of prolactin in female?

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 prolactin cause weight gain?

High levels of prolactin can also result in weight gain and neuropsychological disturbances. The size of the tumor correlates with the amount of prolactin secreted. Larger tumors can cause mass effects by compression of local structures.

Can high prolactin be cured?

Prolactinomas can usually be treated successfully with medication alone. Medication lowers the prolactin level in the blood substantially, often to normal, and also usually reduces adenoma size.

Does prolactin affect mood?

This chapter attempts to provide details, discuss and situate in context the following blocks of pertinent information: (1) prolactin acts upon the central nervous system and variations in its concentrations do affect mood, emotions and behavior; (2) most actions of prolactin are directed to metabolical and behavioral …

Does high prolactin affect sleep?

Similar to growth hormone secretion, prolactin secretion is more strongly related to sleep onset, although some circadian input occurs. Prolactin levels are associated with slow-wave sleep, and interrupted sleep results in blunting of the nighttime rise.

Does prolactin make you tired?

Prolactin levels are naturally higher during sleep, and animals injected with the chemical become tired immediately. This suggests a strong link between prolactin and sleep, so it’s likely that the hormone’s release during orgasm causes men to feel sleepy.

How do you lower prolactin levels quickly?

Treatment for high prolactin levels

1. changing your diet and keeping your stress levels down.
2. stopping high-intensity workouts or activities that overwhelm you.
3. avoiding clothing that makes your chest uncomfortable.
4. avoiding activities and clothing that overstimulate your nipples.
5. taking vitamin B-6 and vitamin E supplements.