Prolactin is a hormone released by the pituitary gland. The prolactin test measures the amount of prolactin in the blood.
Alternative NamesPRL
How the test is performedBlood is typically drawn from a vein, usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The site is cleaned with germ-killing medicine (antiseptic). The health care provider wraps an elastic band around the upper arm to apply pressure to the area and make the vein swell with blood.
Next, the health care provider gently inserts a needle into the vein. The blood collects into an airtight vial or tube attached to the needle. The elastic band is removed from your arm. Once the blood has been collected, the needle is removed, and the puncture site is covered to stop any bleeding.
In infants or young children, a sharp tool called a lancet may be used to puncture the skin and make it bleed. The blood collects into a small glass tube called a pipette, or onto a slide or test strip. A bandage may be placed over the area if there is any bleeding.
How to prepare for the testNo special preparation is necessary.
How the test will feelWhen the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain, while others feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.
Why the test is performedProlactin is a hormone released by the pituitary gland that stimulates breast development and milk production in women. There is no known normal function of prolactin in men.
Prolactin is usually measured when checking for pituitary tumors and the cause of:
The normal values for prolactin are as follows:
Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.
Note: ng/mL = nanograms per milliliter
What abnormal results meanPeople with the following conditions may have high prolactin levels:
Certain medications can also raise prolactin levels, including:
If your prolactin levels are high, the test may be repeated in the early morning after an 8-hour fast.
What the risks areVeins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.
Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight but may include:
The following can temporarily increase prolactin levels:
Melmed S, Kleinberg D. Anterior pituitary. In: Kronenberg HM, Melmed S, Polonsky KS, Larsen PR, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2008: chap 8.
Prolactin is a hormone released by the pituitary gland. The prolactin test measures the amount of prolactin in the blood.
Alternative NamesPRL
How the test is performedA blood sample is needed. For information on how this is done, see: Venipuncture
How to prepare for the testNo special preparation is necessary.
How the test will feelWhen the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain, while others feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.
Why the test is performedProlactin is a hormone released by the pituitary gland that 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:
The normal values for prolactin are:
The examples above are common measurements for results for these tests. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some lab use different measurements or may test different specimens.Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.
Note: ng/mL = nanograms per milliliter
What abnormal results meanPeople with the following conditions may have high prolactin levels:
Certain medications can also raise prolactin levels, including:
If your prolactin levels are high, the test may be repeated in the early morning after an 8-hour fast.
What the risks areVeins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.
Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight but may include:
The following can temporarily increase prolactin levels:
Melmed S, Kleinberg D. Anterior pituitary. In: Kronenberg HM, Melmed S, Polonsky KS, Larsen PR, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 8.
Molitch ME. Anterior pituitary. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 231.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 12/11/2011
Nancy J. Rennert, MD, Chief of Endocrinology & Diabetes, Norwalk Hospital, Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
PLH is the abbreviation for prolactin
What is a Prolactin Blood Test?
Prolactin is a pituitary hormone and is a glycoprotein
Prolactin PROmotes LACTation i.e. it makes breasts produce milk.
The hormone prolactin is most noted for its regulation of milk production in female mammals. Men with decreased levels of prolactin can have lower sperm production.
Can I become pregnant if I have an elevated level of prolactin in my blood?
Increased prolactin levels are found in galactorrhea, amenorrhea, prolactin-secreting pituitary tumor, infiltrative diseases of the hypothalamus, and metastatic cancer of the pituitary gland.
yes
Prolactin is an example of a hormone high level of which causes infertility in women.It regulates milk production
The effect that prolactin has on a pregnant woman is that it stimulates the mammary glands to produce milk.
prolactin - anterior pituitary gland oxytocin - posterior pituitary gland
The hormone prolactin stimulates breast milk production. Prolactin is released from the anterior pituitary gland and the production of prolactin is stimulated by dopamine, oxytocin and thyroid releasing hormone.