A prolactin (PRL) blood test measures the level of prolactin, a hormone produced mainly by the pituitary gland.
Why is it done?
Doctors commonly order it to investigate:
Irregular or absent periods
Difficulty becoming pregnant
Unexpected breast milk production (galactorrhea)
Low libido or erectile problems
Breast enlargement in men
Headaches or vision changes that may suggest a pituitary problem
Suspected pituitary disorders
How is the test done?
It is a routine blood test, usually drawn from a vein in the arm. Prolactin can temporarily rise because of stress, exercise, sexual activity, nipple/breast stimulation, and lack of sleep, so your doctor or laboratory may give specific preparation instructions.
Normal range
The reference range varies by laboratory, age, sex, pregnancy status, and testing method. As a rough guide, many labs use approximately:
Non-pregnant women: ~4–25 ng/mL
Men: ~4–15 ng/mL
Pregnancy and breastfeeding naturally cause much higher levels.
If prolactin is high
Possible causes include pregnancy/breastfeeding, certain medications, hypothyroidism, stress, kidney/liver problems, and pituitary disorders such as a prolactinoma. A mildly elevated result often needs to be repeated under appropriate conditions before concluding that there is a problem.
If you have your prolactin result (with units and the lab's reference range), send it here and I can explain what the number generally means.
in nidan pathology laboratory @location
