Prolactin is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland that plays a crucial role in lactation and reproductive function.

Prolactin levels need checking in both men and women for different conditions.

Women:

  • menstrual irregularities, such as amenorrhea (absence of periods) or oligomenorrhea (infrequent periods)
  • infertility
  • recurrent miscarriage
  • lactation problems, such as insufficient milk production or galactorrhea (abnormal breast milk production)
  •  pituitary tumors, which can cause excessive prolactin production (prolactinoma)

Men:

  •  conditions related to low testosterone levels, such as hypogonadism (underactive testes)
  •  pituitary tumors, which can cause excessive prolactin production (prolactinoma)

Biomarker(s) Measured: Prolactin