Prolactin Test

Prolactin is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland, best known for stimulating milk production after childbirth, though it also plays a role in reproductive and menstrual health in both women and men.

Outside of pregnancy and breastfeeding, prolactin levels are normally quite low, so an unexplained elevation often warrants investigation, particularly since it can interfere with the normal hormonal signals that regulate ovulation and menstruation in women, and testosterone production in men.

One of the more common causes of mildly elevated prolactin is simply the stress of the blood draw itself, or medications like certain antidepressants and antipsychotics, which is why an elevated result is often confirmed with a repeat, more carefully timed test before extensive further investigation.

More significantly elevated levels can indicate a prolactinoma, a usually benign but hormone-secreting tumor of the pituitary gland, which is typically manageable with medication once identified.