What causes high prolactin in females?
Hyperprolactinemia means you have higher-than-normal levels of prolactin in your blood. The most common cause is a prolactinoma, a benign (noncancerous) tumor in your pituitary gland. Certain health conditions and medications can also cause hyperprolactinemia.
What is a normal prolactin level?
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)
What is serum prolactin test for?
Prolactin stimulates breast development and milk production in women. There is no known normal function for prolactin in men. Prolactin is usually measured when checking for pituitary tumors and the cause of: Breast milk production that is not related to childbirth (galactorrhea)
What happens if prolactin is high?
Too much prolactin reduces the production of the hormones estrogen and testosterone. Too much prolactin also can prevent the release of an egg during the menstrual cycle (anovulation) in females. In males, too much prolactin also can lead to decreased sperm production. Bone loss (osteoporosis).
How can I control my prolactin naturally?
Treatment for high prolactin levels
- changing your diet and keeping your stress levels down.
- stopping high-intensity workouts or activities that overwhelm you.
- avoiding clothing that makes your chest uncomfortable.
- avoiding activities and clothing that overstimulate your nipples.
- taking vitamin B-6 and vitamin E supplements.
Can prolactin cause weight gain?
High levels of prolactin can also result in weight gain and neuropsychological disturbances.
Does prolactin cause weight gain?
Conclusion: Weight gain and elevated body weight are frequently associated with prolactinomas regardless of a mass effect on the hypothalamus or pituitary function. In this series, weight loss was recorded in 70% of prolactinomas patients and in 90% of male patients who normalized their prolactin levels.
What happens if prolactin is high in female?
Symptoms include irregular or absent menstrual periods, infertility, menopausal symptoms (hot flashes and vaginal dryness), and, after several years, osteoporosis (thinning and weakening of the bones). High prolactin levels can also cause milk discharge from the breasts.
Can I get pregnant with high prolactin?
High prolactin levels inhibit secretion of FSH, which is the hormone that triggers ovulation. So, if your prolactin levels are high, your ovulation may be suppressed. This is why women who are breastfeeding (and thus have high levels of prolactin) usually don’t become pregnant.
Which foods reduce prolactin?
Foods that lower prolactin levels are generally high in zinc; think shellfish, beef, turkey and beans. It’s also important to get plenty of B6, so foods like potatoes, bananas, wild salmon, chicken and spinach can help boost those vitamin levels.
Which food avoid in high prolactin?
Red clover, fenugreek, or fennel can raise your prolactin levels. Avoid eating anything with these ingredients if you find out you have high prolactin levels.
Can prolactin be cured?
Dopamine agonists can decrease the production of prolactin and shrink the size of the tumor. Drugs can eliminate symptoms for most people with prolactinomas. However, you’ll generally need long-term treatment with drugs. Commonly prescribed drugs include cabergoline and bromocriptine (Cycloset, Parlodel).
How do you stop prolactin?
Medications. Oral medications known as dopamine agonists are generally used to treat a prolactinoma. These drugs mimic the effects of dopamine — the brain chemical that controls how much prolactin is made. Dopamine agonists can decrease the production of prolactin and shrink the size of the tumor.
How can I bring my prolactin levels down?
What foods help lower prolactin?
What are the signs of high prolactin?
Symptoms of High Prolactin Levels
- Infertility, or inability to get pregnant.
- Breast milk leakage in people who aren’t nursing.
- Absent periods, infrequent periods, or irregular periods.
- Loss of interest in sex.
- Painful or uncomfortable intercourse.
- Vaginal dryness.
- Acne.
- Hirsutism , excess body and facial hair growth.
Does prolactin affect sleep?
Prolactin (PRL) is one of the growth factors that influences sleep. It is unique as a growth-sleep factor in that its primary action is to promote rapid eye movement sleep (REMS; also called paradoxical sleep).
What foods cause high prolactin?
Is prolactin a stress hormone?
Prolactin (PRL) is one of the most versatile hormones known. It is considered an adaptive hormone due to the key roles it plays in the modulation of the stress response and during pregnancy and lactation.
What to avoid if prolactin is high?
Treatment for high prolactin levels
- changing your diet and keeping your stress levels down.
- stopping high-intensity workouts or activities that overwhelm you.
- avoiding clothing that makes your chest uncomfortable.
- avoiding activities and clothing that overstimulate your nipples.
- taking vitamin B-6 and vitamin E supplements.
What can I eat to reduce prolactin?
Can high prolactin affect mood?
Patients with hyperprolactinemia often present with emotional difficulties. These occasionally persist even after successful treatment.