Prolactin is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland that stimulates milk production in nursing mothers and is involved in the menstrual cycle, sexual gratification, and the production of progesterone. Elevated levels can be caused by pregnancy, tumors, and exercise. Hormone tests may be ordered when a doctor suspects a problem with the pituitary gland.
Prolactin is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland. Levels of this hormone can fluctuate over the course of someone’s life, depending on a variety of factors, including age and pregnancy. This hormone is also known as luteotropic hormone (LTH). Many medical laboratories can test prolactin levels in patients who have conditions that may be related to abnormal production of this hormone.
As the “can”, related to the Latin root for “milk”, would suggest, one of the key roles of this hormone in the body is to stimulate milk production. The body starts producing this hormone in the later stages of pregnancy so that the breasts are ready when the baby is born and prolactin will be produced throughout the breastfeeding period. Another hormone, oxytocin, stimulates the let-down reflex, which gives the baby access to milk.
The high prolactin levels seen in nursing mothers also appear to be involved in the menstrual cycle. While breastfeeding, some women experience changes in their menstrual cycles that have been linked to this hormone, and this hormone is also involved in the eventual cessation of menstruation that occurs during menopause. Like many hormones involved in the reproductive system, the hormone works with a number of other hormones and in a variety of complex ways, and researchers often discover new things about how this hormone works in the body.
This hormone also appears to be involved in sexual gratification and the production of progesterone by the corpus luteum. Changes in prolactin levels can result in a variety of things, including galactorrhea, in which milk is produced spontaneously and is unrelated to a pregnancy, along with infertility, sterility, and menstrual cycle irregularities.
Elevated levels can be caused by a variety of factors, including pituitary gland tumors, increased exercise, and, of course, pregnancy. Hormone tests may be ordered when a doctor suspects a patient has a problem with their pituitary gland, so the doctor can review the levels of different pituitary hormones, and when patients experience symptoms that may be related to excessive production of prolactin.
Specialized cells known as lactotrophs in the pituitary gland are responsible for secreting this hormone. Sometimes, these cells can become cancerous, causing levels to rise as they proliferate. In these cases, the cancerous growth may be removed, in which case it may be necessary for the patient to take supplemental medications to ensure that the hormones in the body are properly balanced.
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