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Prolactin is a hormone, released from the pituitary gland, that stimulates
milk production.
Mild elevations of prolactin can follow a breast exam, because breast
stimulation provokes increased release of prolactin.
High levels of prolactin are frequently due to a pituitary tumor (microadenoma
or macroadenoma) and are often associated with amenorrhea and glactorrhea.
Elevations of Prolactin may be seen in:
- Galactorrhea
- Amenorrhea
- Pituitary malfunction
- Hypothyroidism
- Renal failure
- Pregnancy
- Breast-feeding
- Stress
- Exercise
- Nipple stimulation
- Drugs (estrogen, tricyclic antidepressents, antihypertensives, etc.)
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Normal Values*
| Men |
<20 ng/ml |
| Women |
2-15 ng/ml |
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Pregnancy
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50-400 ng/ml |
*These are general values taken from a variety of
sources. The actual normal values may vary from lab to lab and from one
type of testing protocol to another.
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