You know, sometimes our bodies do things that just make us pause and wonder, “Huh, what’s that about?” Maybe you’ve noticed something unexpected, like a bit of milky discharge from your nipples when you’re definitely not pregnant or breastfeeding. Or perhaps you and your partner have been trying to start a family, and things just aren’t happening. It could be a little hormone called prolactin making its presence known. It’s a fascinating little worker in our bodies, and understanding it can really help make sense of these puzzling symptoms.
So, What Exactly is Prolactin?
Alright, let’s chat about prolactin. You might also hear it called lactotropin or PRL. It’s a hormone that’s a real multitasker, involved in literally hundreds of processes in your body. But its two headline acts?
- Helping develop breast tissue.
- Kicking off and supporting lactation – that’s the medical term for producing breast milk.
This hormone mostly comes from a tiny but mighty gland at the base of your brain called the pituitary gland. Think of it as the body’s hormone control center. Two other chemical messengers, dopamine (a neurotransmitter, which is like a chemical signal in your brain) and estrogen (another well-known hormone), help keep prolactin production in check.
During pregnancy, prolactin teams up with estrogen and progesterone. Together, they get the breast tissue ready for milk production, specifically developing what we call mammary alveoli – these are tiny pockets in the mammary glands that make and store milk. It’s pretty amazing, really.
Then, after a baby arrives, the number of spots where prolactin can “dock” on these milk-making cells increases. This allows the milk to flow. And here’s a cool thing: prolactin works on a positive feedback loop. When a baby suckles, it signals the pituitary gland to release more prolactin, which means more milk. Clever, right?
Why Prolactin Levels Might Go Up or Down
It’s totally normal for prolactin levels to be higher if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. That’s its main job, after all. But sometimes, levels can temporarily nudge up due to other things:
- Physical stress, like if you’re in pain
- A good workout
- After eating a meal
- Sexual intercourse
- Nipple stimulation (even if it’s not from breastfeeding)
- An injury to your chest area
- Even seizures can cause a temporary spike.
When Prolactin Levels Are Too High (Hyperprolactinemia)
Now, if your prolactin levels stay high for a long time when they shouldn’t, we call this hyperprolactinemia. The most common culprit here is something called a prolactinoma. This is a non-cancerous (benign) tumor on that pituitary gland we talked about. It just makes too much prolactin.
When this happens, you might notice some distinct symptoms:
- Trouble getting pregnant (infertility)
- Less interest in sex
- That milky discharge from your nipples we mentioned earlier (doctors call this galactorrhea)
- Irregular periods, or they might stop altogether
- For men, difficulty with erections (erectile dysfunction)
These symptoms can be worrying, I know. But they’re important clues for us.
What About Low Prolactin Levels?
On the flip side, what if prolactin levels are too low? Well, outside of pregnancy and breastfeeding, your prolactin levels are naturally low. So, the main time we’d even notice abnormally low prolactin is if a new mom isn’t producing enough breast milk after giving birth.
In these situations, a rare condition called hypopituitarism might be the reason. This is when the pituitary gland isn’t making enough of one or more hormones. But, it’s good to remember that making breast milk is a complex business. Lots of things can affect milk supply.
Checking Your Prolactin: The Test and What It Means
If you come to me, or any doctor, with symptoms like the ones we’ve discussed, we’ll likely suggest a simple blood test called a prolactin (PRL) test. It just measures how much prolactin is in your blood. This test can also give us a peek into how well your pituitary gland is functioning.
So, what are we looking for? Generally, “normal” prolactin levels are:
- For men: Less than 20 ng/mL (nanograms per milliliter)
- For women who aren’t pregnant or breastfeeding: Less than 25 ng/mL
- For those who are pregnant or breastfeeding: This is much higher, usually between 80 to 400 ng/mL
Now, these numbers can vary a tiny bit from lab to lab. So, always look at the reference range on your own report. And, of course, we’ll go over your results together.
If we find your levels are high, we’ll then explore why. Often, it’s that prolactinoma. Sometimes, certain medications can also raise prolactin. If it’s a prolactinoma, treatment might involve medication to shrink the tumor and lower prolactin, or in some cases, surgery. We’ll discuss all the options available to you.
Key Things to Remember About Prolactin
It’s a lot to take in, I get it. Here are the main takeaways:
- Prolactin is a hormone mostly known for its role in milk production and breast development.
- Levels naturally rise during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- High prolactin (hyperprolactinemia) when not pregnant or breastfeeding can cause symptoms like nipple discharge, irregular periods, infertility, and low libido. A prolactinoma is a common cause.
- Low prolactin is mainly a concern if it affects milk supply after childbirth.
- A simple blood test can check your prolactin levels.
- If your levels are off, we have ways to investigate and manage it.
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, or if you’re a new mom struggling with milk supply, please don’t just brush it off. Come and have a chat. We can figure things out together. You’re not alone in this.
