Is high prolactin a problem?

Prolactin is what we often call lactation hormone. Generally speaking, it is not a big deal if it is a little high. It may be because the high phenomenon caused by sleep has not returned to normal, so there is no need to worry. However, if it is too high, you must pay special attention. If it is not treated promptly and effectively, it will cause menstrual disorders, lactation, headaches, dizziness and visual impairment, etc. In severe cases, it may also cause infertility, which is very harmful. Therefore, once discovered, professional treatment must be obtained as soon as possible. Experts remind female friends that they must develop regular work and rest and eating habits in their daily lives, avoid staying up late, and avoid eating raw, cold, or irritating foods.

1. Is it a big deal if prolactin is a little high?

It's okay if prolactin is a little high.

Prolactin is one of the hormones secreted by the pituitary gland. Women secrete abundant prolactin in the late stages of pregnancy and during lactation to promote breast development and lactation. The secretion of prolactin is pulsatile and varies greatly throughout the day. The pulse amplitude of prolactin secretion increases rapidly within 1 hour of sleep, then the secretion remains at a high level during sleep and begins to decline after waking up. The serum prolactin concentration at 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning is twice that at noon. During this period, prolactin levels may be high and may show symptoms of being slightly elevated. However, if the increase in prolactin is caused by a disease, it generally will not show symptoms of being slightly high. Therefore, it does not matter if prolactin levels are slightly high.

2. When is prolactin highest?

Prolactin is highest between 3 and 4 in the morning. Prolactin is a polypeptide hormone, also called prolactin (PRL), which is one of the hormones secreted by the pituitary gland. Women secrete abundant prolactin in the late stages of pregnancy and during lactation to promote breast development and lactation. The highest level of prolactin in the serum of non-pregnant women generally does not exceed 20 ng/ml. The secretion of prolactin is pulsatile and varies greatly throughout the day. The pulse amplitude of prolactin secretion increases rapidly within 1 hour of sleep, then the secretion remains at a high level during sleep and begins to decline after waking up. The serum prolactin concentration at 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning is twice that at noon. Prolactin is secreted by specialized cells concentrated on both sides of the posterior pituitary gland and originates from the same cells as growth hormone. Elevated prolactin, medically known as hyperprolactinemia, is a dysfunctional disease of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis. Its main symptoms are a significant decrease in menstrual volume, infrequent menstruation or even amenorrhea, infertility, galactorrhea, menopausal symptoms, etc. Therefore, prolactin is highest at 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning.

Symptoms of abnormally high prolactin

1. Menstrual disorders

It includes various menstrual disorders, ranging from oligomenorrhea, irregular menstruation to amenorrhea, among which amenorrhea is the most common. Primary amenorrhea occurs before puberty or during puberty, while secondary amenorrhea occurs after the reproductive period. Menstruation may be normal in the early stage, and gradually become infrequent menstruation or even amenorrhea. Characteristics of amenorrhea: low luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, disappearance of normal fluctuations, resulting in anovulation, estrogen cannot cause positive feedback, no LH peak occurs, and no response to clomiphene.

2. Lactation

Non-postpartum lactation is a sign of hyperprolactinemia, accounting for about 1/3 to 2/3 of hyperprolactinemia. About 30% of cases are not accompanied by elevated prolactin and exist simultaneously with amenorrhea, which is often referred to as "amenorrhea and lactation syndrome." If high prolactin, amenorrhea and lactation exist at the same time, 2/3 of the cases have pituitary tumors.

3. Headache, dizziness and visual impairment

The enlarged pituitary adenoma causes compression of the surrounding brain tissue and optic chiasm, as well as cerebrospinal fluid reflux obstruction, leading to headaches, dizziness and visual impairment. It refers to the partial or complete disorder of the structure or function of the visual organs (optic nerve of the eye, visual center of the brain) due to congenital or acquired reasons, which makes it impossible (or very difficult) to visually identify external objects after treatment. Visual impairments range from poor vision to complete blindness. Symptoms of poor vision include blurred vision, haziness, extreme farsightedness or nearsightedness, color blindness, and tunnel vision.