You've probably heard the word " prolactin ," especially when you're a mom or breastfeeding. But you may not know exactly what it is and what it does to your body, right? No problem, today we'll talk about it simply, in a way that you can understand. It's like your best friend telling you about it.
What is prolactin? What does it actually do?
Simply put, prolactin is a hormone in our body. Some people also call it lactotropin, or PRL for short. This hormone is mainly important for lactation and the growth of certain tissues in the breasts . But that's not all, it is said to be involved in hundreds of other functions in our body. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, your prolactin levels are usually high.
What are the two main functions of prolactin?
We said this is a lot of work, but there are two main things:
1. Helping the mammary glands in the breasts to develop .
2. Supporting lactation and breastfeeding.
Think about it, when you get pregnant, this hormone prolactin, along with other hormones called estrogen and progesterone, helps your breast tissue grow and start producing milk. Specifically, they help your mammary glands grow the tiny milk cells (mammary alveoli) that make and store milk.
Then, after the baby is born, the receptors for prolactin in your milk cells increase. That's when milk starts to come out of the nipple , which is when lactation occurs.
What's really amazing is that prolactin is one of the few hormones that has a positive feedback loop . That is, when prolactin is released, it tells our pituitary gland to release more prolactin. This increases even more when the baby is sucking. That is, when the baby is sucking, that stimulation causes more prolactin to be produced, which in turn causes more milk to be produced. Isn't that amazing?
Where does this prolactin come from? Who controls it?
The majority of prolactin in your body comes from your pituitary gland . This is a small gland located in the head, just below the brain. It makes and releases prolactin into the body. Prolactin production is controlled by two hormones: dopamine (a neurotransmitter) and estrogen (a hormone).
Why do our prolactin levels change from time to time?
Prolactin levels naturally increase during pregnancy and breastfeeding. In addition, there are other times when they can increase slightly, that is, temporarily. Consider these situations:
- Physical stress , like when you feel pain.
- When exercising.
- After eating a meal.
- When having sex.
- If the nipples become irritated without being breastfed (for example, due to something like getting caught in clothing)
- If there is any injury to the chest .
- If you have a seizure.
However, due to certain medical conditions and medications, your prolactin levels may be very high for a long time. This is called hyperprolactinemia . The main cause of this is a pituitary adenoma called a prolactinoma .
Hyperprolactinemia usually causes the following symptoms:
- Difficulty having children (Infertility).
- Decreased interest in sexual activities.
- Milky discharge from the nipples (galactorrhea) (even in someone who is not pregnant or breastfeeding)
- Irregular menstruation.
- For men, erectile dysfunction.
Can prolactin levels become abnormally low? Why does that happen?
In fact, if you're not pregnant or breastfeeding, your prolactin levels are normal. So, the only sign that you have abnormally low prolactin is a lack of milk after you have your baby .
In such cases, a condition called hypopituitarism may be the cause. This is a very rare condition. This occurs when your pituitary gland does not produce one or more of the hormones it should.
But you also need to remember that breastfeeding is a very complex process. There can be many other reasons for a decrease in milk supply. Therefore, it is not good to suddenly assume that prolactin is low.
How are prolactin levels measured? What is the test for it?
A prolactin (PRL) test is done to measure the level of prolactin in your blood. This is a simple blood test. If you have symptoms that suggest you have high prolactin levels, your doctor will recommend this test. This test can also give some idea of the function of the pituitary gland.
So, what should normal levels of prolactin be?
Typically, normal prolactin levels are as follows:
- For men: Less than 20 ng/mL (nanograms per milliliter).
- For women who are not pregnant or breastfeeding: Less than 25 nanograms per milliliter (`Less than 25 ng/mL`).
- For women who are pregnant or breastfeeding: 80 to 400 nanograms per milliliter (`80 to 400 ng/mL`).
However, these normal values can vary slightly from lab to lab. Therefore, you should check the normal range on your lab report. If you have any questions about your results, ask your doctor.
When should I see a doctor about my prolactin levels?
If you have symptoms that suggest you have high prolactin levels (like the ones we discussed earlier), be sure to see a doctor. He or she can check your prolactin levels with a simple blood test.
If you have problems with breastfeeding, such as not enough milk, it's best to see a lactation consultant or breastfeeding medicine specialist .
Finally, the most important things to remember (Take-Home Message)
Prolactin is a hormone that is very important during pregnancy and lactation. Unless you have symptoms of high prolactin levels (such as irregular periods, infertility), you probably don't think much about it.
The most important thing is, if you have any concerns or questions about your prolactin levels or related symptoms, please see your doctor. They are there to help you. There is nothing to be afraid of or ashamed of. Your health is the most important thing.
So, I hope you now have a better idea about prolactin. I hope this information is useful to you!
` Prolactin, prolactin, hormone, lactation, breast development, pregnancy, pituitary gland, hyperprolactinemia, prolactinoma, women's health
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