Prolactin Levels: What They Mean and How They Affect Your Health

When your body produces prolactin, a hormone made by the pituitary gland that mainly controls milk production after childbirth. Also known as lactotropin, it plays a quiet but powerful role in your metabolism, reproductive health, and even stress response. Most people think of prolactin only in relation to breastfeeding—but it’s active in men and non-pregnant women too. Normal levels vary by gender, age, and even the time of day. A simple blood test can show if your prolactin levels are too high or too low, and that number might explain symptoms you’ve ignored for months.

High prolactin levels, or hyperprolactinemia, a condition where excess prolactin disrupts sex hormones and can cause infertility, missed periods, or low libido, often come from a benign pituitary tumor called a prolactinoma. But it’s not always the tumor. Medications like antipsychotics, antidepressants, and even some heartburn pills can push prolactin up. Stress, sleep, chest wall irritation, and even intense exercise can trigger temporary spikes. On the flip side, low prolactin, rare but possible, may signal pituitary damage or hypopituitarism, leading to poor milk supply after birth or, in rare cases, reduced fertility. Neither extreme should be ignored—both can affect bone density, energy, and mental health over time.

What you’ll find here isn’t just theory. These articles connect real-world cases to the science: how a thyroid problem can mimic high prolactin, why a woman with irregular periods might need a prolactin test before trying IVF, or how switching antidepressants helped a man regain his sex drive after his levels dropped. You’ll see how prolactin interacts with other hormones like estrogen and testosterone, why some supplements can throw it off balance, and what doctors look for when they order a prolactin test. This isn’t about guessing. It’s about understanding the numbers behind your symptoms—and what to do next.