BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuProlactin blood testPRL; Galactorrhea - prolactin test; Infertility - prolactin test; Amenorrhea - prolactin test; Breast leakage - prolactin test; Prolactinoma - prolactin test; Pituitary tumor - prolactin test Prolactin is a hormone released by the pituitary gland. The prolactin blood test measures the amount of prolactin in the blood. How the Test is Performed A fasting blood sample is needed.Blood sample is neededVenipuncture is the collection of blood from a vein. It is most often done for laboratory testing.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How to Prepare for the Test No special preparation is necessary. How the Test will Feel When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or a slight bruise. This soon goes away. Why the Test is Performed Prolactin is a hormone released by the pituitary gland. The pituitary is a small gland at the base of the brain. It regulates the body's balance of many hormones.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) GalactorrheaNipple discharge is any fluid that comes out of the nipple area in your breast.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Decreased sex drive (libido) in men and women Erection problems in men Erection problems in menAn erection problem occurs when a man cannot get or keep an erection that is firm enough for intercourse. You may not be able to get an erection at ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Not able to get pregnant (infertility in women) InfertilityInfertility means you cannot get pregnant (conceive). There are 2 types of infertility:Primary infertility refers to couples who have not become preg...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Irregular or no menstrual periods (amenorrhea) AmenorrheaAbsence of a woman's monthly menstrual period is called amenorrhea. Primary amenorrhea is when a girl has not yet started her monthly periods, and sh...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Normal Results The normal values for prolactin are:Men: less than 20 ng/mL (20 µg/L) Nonpregnant women: less than 25 ng/mL (25 µg/L) Pregnant women: less than 500 ng/mL (500 µg/L)Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your health care provider about the meaning of your specific test results. What Abnormal Results Mean People with the following conditions may have high prolactin levels:Chest wall injury or irritation Presence of nipple rings Disease of an area of the brain called the hypothalamus HypothalamusThe hypothalamus is an area of the brain that produces hormones that regulate:Body temperatureHeart rateHungerMoodRelease of hormones from many gland...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism) HypothyroidismHypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone. This condition is often called underactive thyroid....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Kidney disease Pituitary tumor that makes prolactin (prolactinoma) ProlactinomaA prolactinoma is a noncancerous (benign) pituitary tumor that produces a hormone called prolactin. This results in too much prolactin in the blood....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Other pituitary tumors and diseases in the area of the pituitary Abnormal clearance of prolactin molecules (macroprolactin)Certain medicines can also raise prolactin level, including:Antidepressants Butyrophenones Estrogens H2 blockers Metoclopramide Opioid medicines Phenothiazines Risperidone Verapamil Marijuana products can also raise prolactin level.If your prolactin level is high, the test may be repeated in the early morning after an 8-hour fast.The following can temporarily increase prolactin levels:Emotional or physical stress (occasionally) High-protein meals Intense breast stimulation Recent breast exam Recent exercise Interpretation of an abnormally high prolactin blood test is complicated. In most case, your provider will need to refer you to an endocrinologist, a doctor who specializes in hormone problems. Risks There is little risk in having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another and from one side of the body to the other. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others.Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight, but may include:Excessive bleeding Multiple punctures to locate veins Fainting or feeling lightheaded Hematoma (blood buildup under the skin) HematomaA bruise is an area of skin discoloration. A bruise occurs when small blood vessels break and leak their contents into the soft tissue beneath the s...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken) Open ReferencesReferencesGuber HA, Oprea M, Rusell YX. Evaluation of endocrine function. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 25.Weiss RE. Anterior pituitary. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 205.AllVideoImagesTogBlood test - illustration Blood is drawn from a vein (venipuncture), usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. Preparation may vary depending on the specific test.Blood testillustrationBlood test - illustration Blood is drawn from a vein (venipuncture), usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. Preparation may vary depending on the specific test.Blood testillustration Tests for Prolactin blood test Prolactin blood testTestosteroneRelated Information Protein in diet(Nutrition)Hypothyroidism(Condition)Hypothyroidism - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 7/21/2024 Reviewed By: Sandeep K. Dhaliwal, MD, board-certified in Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Springfield, VA. Also reviewed by David C. 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Prolactin blood testPRL; Galactorrhea - prolactin test; Infertility - prolactin test; Amenorrhea - prolactin test; Breast leakage - prolactin test; Prolactinoma - prolactin test; Pituitary tumor - prolactin test Prolactin is a hormone released by the pituitary gland. The prolactin blood test measures the amount of prolactin in the blood. How the Test is Performed A fasting blood sample is needed.Blood sample is neededVenipuncture is the collection of blood from a vein. It is most often done for laboratory testing.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How to Prepare for the Test No special preparation is necessary. How the Test will Feel When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or a slight bruise. This soon goes away. Why the Test is Performed Prolactin is a hormone released by the pituitary gland. The pituitary is a small gland at the base of the brain. It regulates the body's balance of many hormones.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) GalactorrheaNipple discharge is any fluid that comes out of the nipple area in your breast.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Decreased sex drive (libido) in men and women Erection problems in men Erection problems in menAn erection problem occurs when a man cannot get or keep an erection that is firm enough for intercourse. You may not be able to get an erection at ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Not able to get pregnant (infertility in women) InfertilityInfertility means you cannot get pregnant (conceive). There are 2 types of infertility:Primary infertility refers to couples who have not become preg...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Irregular or no menstrual periods (amenorrhea) AmenorrheaAbsence of a woman's monthly menstrual period is called amenorrhea. Primary amenorrhea is when a girl has not yet started her monthly periods, and sh...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Normal Results The normal values for prolactin are:Men: less than 20 ng/mL (20 µg/L) Nonpregnant women: less than 25 ng/mL (25 µg/L) Pregnant women: less than 500 ng/mL (500 µg/L)Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your health care provider about the meaning of your specific test results. What Abnormal Results Mean People with the following conditions may have high prolactin levels:Chest wall injury or irritation Presence of nipple rings Disease of an area of the brain called the hypothalamus HypothalamusThe hypothalamus is an area of the brain that produces hormones that regulate:Body temperatureHeart rateHungerMoodRelease of hormones from many gland...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism) HypothyroidismHypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone. This condition is often called underactive thyroid....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Kidney disease Pituitary tumor that makes prolactin (prolactinoma) ProlactinomaA prolactinoma is a noncancerous (benign) pituitary tumor that produces a hormone called prolactin. This results in too much prolactin in the blood....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Other pituitary tumors and diseases in the area of the pituitary Abnormal clearance of prolactin molecules (macroprolactin)Certain medicines can also raise prolactin level, including:Antidepressants Butyrophenones Estrogens H2 blockers Metoclopramide Opioid medicines Phenothiazines Risperidone Verapamil Marijuana products can also raise prolactin level.If your prolactin level is high, the test may be repeated in the early morning after an 8-hour fast.The following can temporarily increase prolactin levels:Emotional or physical stress (occasionally) High-protein meals Intense breast stimulation Recent breast exam Recent exercise Interpretation of an abnormally high prolactin blood test is complicated. In most case, your provider will need to refer you to an endocrinologist, a doctor who specializes in hormone problems. Risks There is little risk in having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another and from one side of the body to the other. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others.Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight, but may include:Excessive bleeding Multiple punctures to locate veins Fainting or feeling lightheaded Hematoma (blood buildup under the skin) HematomaA bruise is an area of skin discoloration. A bruise occurs when small blood vessels break and leak their contents into the soft tissue beneath the s...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken) Open ReferencesReferencesGuber HA, Oprea M, Rusell YX. Evaluation of endocrine function. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 25.Weiss RE. Anterior pituitary. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 205.
