Prolactin

Overview:

Prolactin is made by the pituitary gland and its best known role is stimulating milk production after childbirth. Outside pregnancy and breastfeeding, raised prolactin can interfere with the hormones that drive ovulation and testosterone production, causing irregular or absent periods, reduced fertility, low sex drive and sometimes milk production unrelated to feeding. Common causes include a benign pituitary tumor called a prolactinoma, an underactive thyroid, and a number of medications, particularly some antipsychotics and antidepressants. Stress, exercise, sleep and nipple stimulation all raise prolactin, so a single high result is usually repeated.

Categories:

Hormone

Biomarkers:

1 biomarker