8 Signs Your Prolactin Levels are Too High

Prolactin is a hormone that affects many different hormones in the body. Present in both men and women, it rarely causes problems, but those who care about their health should understand what it is and how it impacts the body’s overall health and well-being. Prolactin, as its name implies, is a hormone that promotes lactation or breast milk production in mammals and is responsible for a number of other functions and systems. Prolactin is created in the front portion of the pituitary gland in your brain, as well as in the uterus, brain, breasts, prostate, adipose tissue, skin, and immune cells.


Source

How is prolactin controlled?
One of the main regulators of the production of prolactin from the pituitary gland is the hormone called dopamine, which is produced by the hypothalamus, the part of the brain directly above the pituitary gland. Dopamine restrains prolactin production, so the more dopamine there is, the less prolactin is released. Prolactin itself enhances the secretion of dopamine, so this creates a negative feedback loop.

Why is the prolactin test done?
Women with prolactinoma symptoms may need the test. Prolactinoma is a noncancerous tumor on the pituitary gland that produces high levels of prolactin. Symptoms of prolactinoma in women include:

• unexplained headaches
• visual impairment
• galactorrhea, or lactation outside of childbirth or nursing
• pain or discomfort during sex
• abnormal acne