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Hyperprolactinemia



What is Hyperprolactinemia / High Prolactin Levels?

Hyperprolactinemia is a condition of abnormally high levels of prolactin in the blood. Prolactin is one of the peptide hormones produced by the pituitary gland and stimulates milk production in the breast. The main, normal function of prolactin is during and after pregnancy.

During pregnancy, the prolactin secretion increases and stimulates growth of the breast, but high levels of Estrogen and Progesterone hormones prevent breast milk production (lactation). After delivery, the Estrogen and Progesterone levels drop and Prolactin stimulates lactation by the alveolar cells in the breast.

This peptide hormone - prolactin is also responsible for absence of menses during pregnancy and for a few months after delivery. It also affects the levels of sex hormones such as estrogen and testosterone in both women and men.


What are the Causes of Hyperprolactinemia / High Prolactin Levels?

Hyperprolactinemia occurs due to both natural and unnatural causes such as:

What are the Symptoms and Signs of Hyperprolactinemia / High Prolactin Levels?

The symptoms and signs in both men and women as applicable to the gender, include:


Men may have symptoms such as:


How do you Diagnose Hyperprolactinemia / High Prolactin Levels?

Hyperprolactinemia diagnosis is based on a patient's symptoms, medical history, medication use, and ruling out pregnancy in a woman.

How do you Treat Hyperprolactinemia / High Prolactin Levels?

The treatment options include:

How do you Prevent Hyperprolactinemia / High Prolactin Levels?

There are no proven methods to prevent unnatural hyperprolactinemia. However, detecting the causative factor early and treating the same effectively, is the best option. Some of the measures include:

References:

  1. Hyperprolactinemia - Hormone Health Network - https://www.hormone.org/diseases-and-conditions/hyperprolactinemia
  2. Dopamine, PIF, and other regulators of prolactin secretion - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6105975/
  3. Prolactin - http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/endocrine/hypopit/prolactin.html#:~:text=Control%20of%20Prolactin%20Secretion&text=Dopamine%20serves%20as%20the%20major,synthesis%20and%20secretion%20of%20prolactin
  4. Hyperprolactinemia - https://www.hormone.org/diseases-and-conditions/pituitary/hyperprolactinemia
  5. John Hopkins Medicine- Neurology and Neurosurgery-The Pituitary Center - https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neurology_neurosurgery/centers_clinics/pituitary_center/conditions/hyperprolactinemi a.html
  6. National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine -Pharmacological causes of hyperprolactinemia- Daria La Torre and Alberto Falorni - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2376090/
  7. National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine Diagnosis and management of hyperprolactinemia- Omar Serri, Constance L. Chik, Ehud Ur, and Shereen Ezzat

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