Effective way To Test Prolactin level

What does a prolactin level test measure ?

The level of prolactin in the blood is measured by a prolactin (PRL) test. The pituitary gland, a tiny gland near the base of the brain, produces prolactin. During pregnancy and after birth, prolactin encourages the breasts to expand and produce milk. Prolactin levels in pregnant women and new moms are typically high. Non-pregnant women and males usually have low levels.

If your prolactin levels are greater than normal, you may have a prolactinoma, which is a form of pituitary tumour. The gland produces too much prolactin as a result of the tumour. Excess prolactin can cause men and women who are not pregnant or nursing to produce breast milk. Menstrual difficulties and infertility can also be caused by too much prolactin in women. It might cause a decrease in sex drive and erectile dysfunction in males (ED). The inability to develop or sustain an erection, often known as impotence, is referred to as ED.

Prolactinomas are typically harmless tumours (noncancerous). However, if left untreated, these tumours can cause harm to the tissues around them.

What is the purpose of it ?

A prolactin levels test is most commonly used to: Find out whether you have a prolactinoma (a type of tumour of the pituitary gland)

Assist in determining the reason of a woman’s infertility and/or menstrual abnormalities. Assist in determining the reason of a man’s lack of sexual desire and/or erectile dysfunction.

What does a prolactin level test measure ?

If you experience signs of a prolactinoma, you may require this test. Among the signs and symptoms are:

• If you are not pregnant or nursing, you can produce breast milk.
• The discharge of nipples
• Headaches
• Visional shifts

Other signs and symptoms vary depending on whether you are a male or a woman. If you’re a woman, your symptoms will also be affected by whether or not you’ve gone through menopause. Menopause occurs when a woman’s menstrual cycles have ceased and she is no longer able to conceive. It generally begins when a woman reaches the age of 50.

Excess prolactin can cause the following symptoms in women who have not yet reached menopause

• Periods that are irregular
• Periods that have come to an end before reaching the age of 40. Premature menopause is the term for this.
• Infertility
• Soreness in the breasts

Women who have had menopause may not have symptoms until the problem has progressed. Hypothyroidism is frequently caused by an excess of prolactin following menopause. The body does not produce enough thyroid hormone in this disease. Hypothyroidism causes the following symptoms

• Fatigue
• Gaining weight
• Muscle ache
• Constipation
• Cold temperatures are difficult to bear.
• Excess prolactin in men causes the following symptoms
• The discharge of nipples
• Enlargement of the breasts
• Drive for low sex
• Erectile dysfunction (ED)
• Hair loss on the body

What happens when you have your prolactin levels checked ?

A tiny needle will be used to draw a blood sample from a vein in your arm by a health care expert. A tiny amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial once the needle is placed. When the needle goes in or out, it may hurt a bit. It generally takes less than five minutes to do this task.

Is there anything I can do to prepare for the test ?

You should take your exam three to four hours after you get up. Prolactin levels fluctuate throughout the day, although they are typically highest in the morning.

Make sure to notify your doctor about any medications you’re taking. Prolactin levels can be raised by taking certain medications. Birth control medications, high blood pressure drugs, and antidepressants are among them.

Is there any danger in taking the test ?

Having a blood test carries relatively little risk. You may have little discomfort or bruising where the needle was inserted, but most symptoms fade rapidly.

What do the findings imply ?

If your prolactin levels are higher than usual, you might be suffering from one of the following conditions:

Prolactinoma is a kind of cancer that affects the prolactin (a type of tumour of the pituitary gland)

Hypothyroidism

Hypothalamic illness is a condition that affects the hypothalamus. The pituitary gland and other bodily processes are controlled by the hypothalamus, a part of the brain. Hepatitis is a disease of the liver. If your prolactin levels are high, your doctor may arrange an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) test to examine your pituitary gland more closely. Medicine or surgery can be used to address high prolactin levels. Speak with your health care practitioner if you have any questions regarding your results.