Prolactin - biologically active substance secreted by the pituitary gland. This hormone affects all cells in the body. Highest value prolactin is important for childbirth and breastfeeding. But other functions of the hormone cannot be underestimated.

A blood prolactin test is prescribed by an endocrinologist, gynecologist, therapist, neurologist and other specialists.

Reference values ​​vary slightly between laboratories. This is due to the fact that reagents from different manufacturers are used.

The prolactin level depends on:

• from the patient's gender;
• from age;
• from pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Norm for women

Prolactin in non-pregnant women

From the moment of the first menstruation until menopause, women most often get tested for prolactin. This period is called childbearing age. The norm for women in these years is considered to be prolactin from 40 to 600 mU/l.

For favorable conception and during pregnancy, the ideal hormone level is considered to be from 120 to 530 mU/l.

An increase in hormone concentration is quite common and can cause infertility. Low levels hormones contribute to disorders menstrual cycle and spontaneous abortions.

Normal values ​​during pregnancy

During pregnancy, prolactin is actively secreted by the pituitary gland. A sufficient amount of the hormone is necessary to maintain pregnancy, and for the growth and development of breast tissue, and for correct formation fetus

Normal prolactin levels after conception depend on exact date pregnancy. An increase in hormone concentration begins after 8 weeks. Maximum values ​​are recorded after 20–30 weeks. Just a few days before natural birth prolactin begins to fall.

Standards for pregnant women have not been approved. In most cases, if necessary, the doctor evaluates the dynamics of changes in hormone concentrations during pregnancy.

Currently, scientists suggest that in pregnant women, from 8 to 12 weeks, prolactin averages 500–2000 mU/l, at 13–27 weeks - 2000–6000 mU/l, and then increases to 4000–10,000 mU/l.

Normal after childbirth

After the birth of a child, the hormone is involved in the formation of maternal instinct, maintaining breastfeeding, and suppressing the ability to conceive again.

An increase in prolactin may persist as long as a woman is breastfeeding. The highest levels of the hormone are recorded in the first six months of a baby’s life. The higher the number of feedings, the higher the hormone value.

Prolactin decreases as complementary foods are added to breast milk in the baby's diet, and nighttime breastfeeding is also abolished.

Even if a mother continues to breastfeed a child older than one year, excess prolactin is rarely detected in her blood.

In the first 7 days after childbirth, a woman’s hormone decreases rapidly. If she is not breastfeeding, then by the end of the week prolactin should be within the normal range for non-pregnant women (40–600 mU/l).

The norm after childbirth for nursing mothers is estimated approximately. It is believed that in the first 6 months the hormone should be up to 2500 mU/l.

A year after the birth of a baby to a nursing mother normal indicator prolactin up to 1000 mU/l, and in practice in most cases corresponds to values ​​up to 600 mU/l.

Determining the concentration of the hormone during this period of life is advisable only if a pituitary adenoma is identified.

Normal values ​​in menopausal women

After the cessation of menstruation, a woman’s body experiences big changes. They also concern the activity of the pituitary gland. In particular, a decrease in average prolactin values ​​was recorded.

Normal salary one year after graduation last menstrual period: 25–400 mU/l. Subsequently, the hormone continues to gradually decrease.

Normal in children

In children in the first month of life, high blood prolactin levels are observed. Initial values ​​can be up to 1700–2000 mU/l. These indicators are associated with the supply of maternal hormones. The child may experience engorgement mammary glands and the release of colostrum drops from the areola.

Very quickly, the concentration of the hormone in the blood begins to fall and by the end of the newborn period the norm is up to 607 mU/l in boys and up to 628 mU/l in girls. She remains like this throughout the first year of life.

On average, in children under 10 years of age the figure is 40–400 mU/l.

Teenagers have higher hormone levels than children younger age. This is especially noticeable in girls.

Normal for men

In men, the hormone performs a series of important functions. But the need for it is much less than for women. The norm for men falls within the range from 53 to 360 mU/l. A concentration of 360–400 mU/l is considered high, but normal.

Random hormone deviations from the norm

Random deviations of prolactin values ​​from the norm occur in healthy people, neglecting proper preparation to analysis.

To see true hormone levels you need

• exclude sex a day before the test;
• refuse thermal procedures (bath, hot bath, sauna) a day before the analysis;
• do not eat anything for 8–12 hours before blood sampling;
• avoid strenuous physical activity on the day of the test;
• maintain emotional calm on the day of the test.

You cannot take this test during feeling unwell, viral disease And severe fatigue. Insomnia and other sleep disorders can also affect the results. The indicator can be correctly determined only in the morning hours (8.00–10.00). After waking up, at least 180 minutes should pass.

The influence of hormones in the body is simply colossal, because they regulate all life processes. Depends on their level psychological health, reproductive functions, emotional state person. The main female hormone that affects the possibility of conception, gestation and breastfeeding is prolactin.

Prolactin is a hormone synthesized by the cells of the anterior pituitary gland. The degree of influence of the hormone on a woman’s body is extremely high. If prolactin levels exceed acceptable standards, disruptions in the menstrual cycle are observed, and hormonal infertility develops.

Prolactin production occurs in the pituitary gland, one of the parts of the brain, but in small quantities it is also synthesized in the ovaries, and during pregnancy, also in the placenta and in the endometrium of the uterus. The level of the hormone in the blood also depends on another female hormone - estrogen. When estrogen in the blood increases (during pregnancy), the brain receives a command to increase prolactin levels for conception.

Prolactin significantly affects the mammary glands. It changes the structure of the mammary gland, preparing it for lactation and feeding a newborn. This explains why when a woman breastfeeds, she does not menstruate and her chances of conceiving are greatly reduced.

Important! If breastfeeding increases the level of prolactin, which is absolutely normal, then an increase in the amount of this hormone in another period is very unfavorable for conception and indicates a threat of infertility.

The normal level of prolactin in the blood of women

In women, the level of prolactin in the blood is established with the arrival of the first menstruation and remains at a level of 4-36 ng/ml until menopause. During pregnancy, prolactin increases significantly 34-386 ng/ml. For pregnancy to occur, prolactin must be within normal limits at conception.

Important! The effect of prolactin on the possibility of conception should not be underestimated. Therefore, before planning a pregnancy, a woman needs to check hormonal balance and at the slightest deviation in indicators, contact a gynecologist.

Symptoms of elevated prolactin levels

The main symptoms of increased prolactin in the blood include:

• disorders and disruptions of the menstrual cycle (spotting, cycle failure, lack of ovulation);
• discharge from the breast (galactorrhea);
• frigidity or decreased libido;
• excess hair growth;
• acne pimples;
• infertility.

Causes of elevated prolactin levels in the blood

An increase in hormone levels and problems with pregnancy can be closely related to diseases and a woman’s lifestyle. Prolactin increases rapidly during emotional overload, and stress and an active sex life especially affect its level.

Important! High level Prolactin will not make it possible to conceive a child.

The main reasons for the increase in hormones:

• intense physical activity;
• taking antiemetics, psychotropics, contraceptive drugs, tranquilizers;
• operations, breast injuries, uterine curettage;
• availability intrauterine device.

Some diseases can also affect prolactin levels:

• hypothyroidism;
• anorexia;
• prolactinoma (one of the types of pituitary tumor);
• liver and kidney diseases;
• neoplasms.

How to determine prolactin levels

To determine the level of prolactin in the blood, it will be enough to take a blood test.

Important! Before taking blood, it is necessary to minimize stress and not take hot shower and bath, do not visit the bathhouse and sauna, refrain from sexual intercourse and drinking alcohol.

Blood sampling is carried out in morning time, 2-3 hours after getting up, on an empty stomach. If, after receiving the results, abnormalities are identified, you will need to consult an endocrinologist and gynecologist.

Prolactin during pregnancy

Cases where pregnancy occurs with elevated prolactin levels at conception are not uncommon. But in such a situation there is a threat of spontaneous abortion. Therefore, it is necessary to normalize the level of the hormone in the blood as soon as possible so as not to provoke a miscarriage.

Treatment

Treatment to normalize prolactin levels is carried out after medical examination. Basically it's drug therapy. They take the following drugs: Cyclodinone, Mastodinone, Bromocriptine, Dostinex, Parlodel, etc. The course of medication is long: from six months to a year. Periodically you need to take control tests and measure basal temperature.

When a tumor is detected in the pituitary gland, drug treatment is first prescribed, and if it does not bring the desired result, surgery is performed.

Prolactin and IVF

Before undergoing the IVF procedure ( in vitro fertilization), it is necessary to determine the level of prolactin.

Important! Elevated prolactin and IVF are incompatible, and the operation will be unsuccessful. The entire procedure will end in embryo rejection.

In order for it to come long-awaited pregnancy as a result of IVF, you need to reduce prolactin. An increase in prolactin after embryo transfer indicates that the pregnancy is going well and the embryo has taken root in the body of the uterus. After embryo transfer, the woman is prescribed drugs that maintain progesterone levels, these include Duphaston or Utrozhestan. They should be taken until 14 weeks of pregnancy, while the baby's place is being formed.

Take care of your health, spend less time under the scorching rays of the sun, which stimulate the hypothalamus and, accordingly, the pituitary gland. Don't get carried away sleeping pills. Having noticed discharge from the mammary glands, there is no need to squeeze it out, thereby stimulating the production of prolactin. It is better to seek help from a gynecologist in order to begin correcting the hormonal levels in the blood in time.

Hormones are invisible and cannot be touched, but these little workers control our body.

More than 100 types of biologically active data are known organic matter, but who knows how many of them have not yet been discovered?

IN female body special hormones are produced that allow you to realize yourself in the role of a mother - to conceive and bear a baby, to feed him. Prolactin belongs to this group.

Although main function hormone - support of lactation, it can also be called a regulator of conception. And women planning a pregnancy need to know about this. How does prolactin affect conception?

How is the hormone prolactin related to conception?

Everyone has prolactin - both women and men. True, the latter have a minimal concentration.

In women, in addition to regulating production breast milk The hormone also performs other functions:

1. is a natural analgesic (reduces pain);
2. takes part in the mechanism of orgasm formation;
3. responsible for sexual desire;
4. controls the menstrual cycle.

This lactotropic hormone inhibits the ovulation cycle, prolongs life corpus luteum in the ovary, lengthening the luteal phase of the cycle. If ovulation is inhibited, pregnancy does not occur.

This is a natural mechanism that prevents the next baby from becoming pregnant while the previous one is still a baby. That's why during lactation long time no periods.

Prolactin levels for successful conception

Hormone balance - important condition for conception. But if this balance is lost, reproductive function is violated.

According to statistics, up to a quarter of women undergoing infertility treatment suffer from an imbalance of lactotropic hormone. How does prolactin affect conception?

Elevated prolactin

Elevated prolactin and conception are often incompatible. If the concentration of lactotrope is more than normal, this condition is called hyperprolactinemia.

It is caused by several factors:

• Physiological, while being a variant of the norm: during pregnancy and breastfeeding a child, as well as during physical fatigue, stress, and even during sleep or sex.
• Pathological, that is, caused by certain diseases (liver cirrhosis, kidney failure, polycystic ovary syndrome, brain tumor, etc.).
• After therapy with certain drugs: antihistamines, contraceptives, hormonal drugs.

What is dangerous about elevated prolactin and how does it affect conception?

With hyperprolactinemia, menstruation is interrupted or absent, and therefore ovulation, without which fertilization is impossible.

Important! When the hormone is high, the body is “misled” into believing that there is already a pregnancy, and does not allow a new one!

High prolactin is also dangerous for planned breastfeeding: the mammary glands change their structure, and breast cancer may develop.

Reduced prolactin

If the hormone level is low, pregnancy is quite likely; a decrease is not as dangerous as an increase. It is more important that he “grows up” when conception occurs.

The norm for prolactin for conception is 4-36 ng/ml. A blood test can accurately determine hormone levels.

It is handed over with absolute calm, a couple of days before the test, physical overload is excluded, stressful situations, coffee and alcohol, sex.

Important! The hormone is sensitive to emotions and noticeably “grows” with the production of seratonin and adrenaline!

Conclusion

Balan is important in everything, and first of all, in hormones. After all, it is thanks to them that our life not only goes on, but also continues.

That's why normalization hormonal levels- an important condition for planning pregnancy.

Video: Prolactin is increased

It's no secret that hormones are one of the most important regulators of all processes in our body. Our emotional state, psychological health and, of course, reproductive health depend on the level of hormones. An important hormone The hormone prolactin influences the ability to conceive.

Prolactin levels and conception

Prolactin is a hormone synthesized by the cells of the anterior pituitary gland.

The effect of prolactin on our body has not yet been fully studied, but one thing is for sure: increased level this hormone causes problems with conception, the menstrual cycle and can even provoke hormonal infertility.

The hormone prolactin is produced in the pituitary gland - a part of the brain - but is also secreted in small quantities by the placenta, ovaries and endometrium. The production of prolactin depends on another female hormone - estrogen. When the level of estrogen in the blood increases (usually occurs during pregnancy), the brain receives a signal to increase the level of the hormone prolactin.

Prolactin has the greatest effect on mammary glands. It promotes change internal structure mammary glands and prepares them for lactation and feeding the child. That is why during breastfeeding there is an extremely low chance of getting pregnant and you will not get your period. Elevated levels of the hormone prolactin block the hormone's production progesterone, which negatively affects conception. But if during breastfeeding this phenomenon is quite logical, then when an increase in the hormone prolactin occurs regardless of childbirth, it makes sense to talk about the threat of infertility.

Reasons for increased prolactin levels

We will omit pregnancy and breastfeeding as reasons for increased prolactin and consider the rest.

An increase in the level of the hormone prolactin and problems with conception may be due to lifestyle features women or some diseases.

Prolactin is very sensitive to emotions, so stress and other emotional outbursts, especially intense sex life, etc. can provoke an increase in its level in the blood. In addition, prolactin levels may rise due to:

Excessive loads (for example, among professional athletes),

Taking hormonal contraceptives, psychotropic, antiemetics and some other drugs,

The presence of an intrauterine device in a woman,

Previously performed uterine curettages, operations, injuries to the chest or mammary glands.

The list of diseases that can cause increased prolactin levels:

Polycystic ovary syndrome,

Anorexia,

Hypothyroidism,

Prolactinoma,

Kidney and liver diseases,

Tumors and other diseases of the hypothalamus.

How do you know if prolactin levels are elevated?

It is worth thinking about the level of prolactin in your blood if you notice the following: signs:

Problems with the menstrual cycle (irregular periods, long absence of periods, scanty discharge),

The appearance of acne,

Excessive hair growth

Decreased libido.

How to get tested for prolactin?

To check the level of prolactin in your body, you need to do a blood test. It is important to know that before carrying out the analysis, several conditions must be met in order to obtain as a result objective research. Thus, prolactin levels can normally be elevated after smoking, drinking alcohol, sexual intercourse, or stimulation of the mammary glands. All this should be excluded the day before the hormone test. In addition, prolactin levels increase under stress, increased physical activity. Therefore, doctors recommend performing a blood test for prolactin in the morning, on an empty stomach, 2-3 hours after sleep.

When the doctor receives the results of the analysis, he draws conclusions based on the numbers, which are usually indicated as percentages. Based on them, he judges the presence or absence of hyperprolactinemia. In the future, your doctor may refer you to additional examination, in particular, MRI, and prescribe the necessary drug treatment. If the increase in prolactin levels is insignificant, then macroprolactin (inactive prolactin) is checked. A sufficient amount of macroprolactin makes it possible to safely plan a pregnancy.

How to reduce prolactin levels?

If you decide to conceive a child, but at the same time you have an elevated level of prolactin in your blood, you need to reduce it. Depending on the reasons, the doctor can prescribe you adequate treatment.

Most often, problems with conception under the influence of the hormone prolactin are treated with drug therapy. Such treatment can last from several months to several years. The main thing in this case is to take medications regularly, control prolactin levels and change basal temperature.

If the matter is serious - and the increase in prolactin levels is caused by tumors in the pituitary gland - the doctor will prescribe either surgery, or chemo or radiation therapy , or necessary drug treatment.

The hormone prolactin greatly affects the ability to conceive, so before planning a child, be sure to check the level of this hormone. And even if the analysis reveals some deviation from the norm, there is no need to be afraid of it. After all modern medicine can normalize prolactin levels and help you conceive a healthy and beautiful baby!

The hormone prolactin plays important role, participates in work different systems organism, including the reproductive one. Hyperprolactinemia—an increase in prolactin in the blood—is one of the common forms hormonal infertility. In 20-25% of patients with infertility and menstrual irregularities, elevated levels of this hormone are found. The main source of prolactin is the pituitary gland. But a small amount of it is also secreted by the placenta, ovaries, and endometrium.

Factors that increase prolactin

Physiological: found in healthy women. Hormone levels increase during pregnancy, in postpartum period, during breastfeeding, also during increased exercise, sports. Prolactin is very responsive to emotions, so stress, affection, especially breast stimulation, and sexual intercourse can temporarily increase it. There may also be a reflex increase in the hormone due to intrauterine devices.

from the story - Notes of an embryo, about a conversation between an embryo and its mother, read on this site

... But everything turns out to be even worse than I thought. One morning I woke up and accidentally discovered that hair was growing on my head. They are terribly long! Mommies! So maybe I'm a dog after all? Although no, Lucy had a tail, but I don’t. Then I turn from a man into a real elephant. Daddy, thank you, I croaked!

Pathological: caused by certain diseases (primary hypothyroidism, renal failure, liver cirrhosis, PCOS, etc.) and pituitary tumors (micro- and macroprolactinomas).

The hormone also increases after taking certain medicines, for example - contraceptives, antiemetics, antihypertensives, psychotropics, tranquilizers. After curettage of the uterine cavity, injuries and operations on chest, mammary glands, and other interventions.

Symptoms of elevated prolactin

Women may experience discharge from the mammary glands (galactorrhea) - this symptom occurs in 30% of women with hyperprolactinemia, menstrual irregularities (scanty periods, lack of ovulation, insufficiency of the second phase), infertility, decreased libido and frigidity, excess hair growth, acne. Men may also have elevated prolactin. Symptoms are enlarged mammary glands, decreased desire and potency, as well as decreased testosterone production, which has a negative impact on sperm motility and quality and can lead to infertility.

Diagnostics

To diagnose problems with prolactin, women need to consult an endocrinologist or gynecologist-endocrinologist, men - an endocrinologist and this is to determine the level of the hormone in the blood. If the results of a blood test reveal elevated prolactin, but there are no other symptoms, then you need to retake the test. Please note that blood sampling for analysis must be carried out strictly in the morning, 2-3 hours after waking up, on an empty stomach. If it takes a long time to get to the clinic, then it makes sense to get tested at home. Many laboratories offer this service. The day before it is necessary to avoid stress, sexual relations, visits to the sauna and bathhouse, and drinking alcohol. An hour before the test, refrain from cigarettes. The level of the hormone in the blood of women fluctuates slightly during the menstrual cycle, therefore the results are interpreted depending on its phase. It is very important to follow all recommendations, otherwise false result will lead to additional studies that may not be relevant to you. The standards depend on the specific laboratory, since different reagents are used. Therefore, when interpreting the analysis, you need to focus only on the norms indicated next to the result.

Based on the results of blood tests, the doctor may prescribe additional diagnostic methods: craniogram, computed tomography, fundus and visual field examinations, functional tests With thyroid-stimulating hormone and metoclopramide.

Treatment methods

The treatment method is selected by doctors depending on the examination results. Most often this drug therapy. With a slight increase in prolactin, you can get by homeopathic medicines, for example, containing extracts of Vitex sacred - mastodinone or cyclodinone. But most often, patients have to take more serious drugs - bromocriptine, parlodel, dostinex and others. Tune in long-term treatment, its course can last six months or longer. Periodically, you will need to take tests to monitor hormone levels and measure your basal temperature. Modern drugs prescribed for hyperprolactinemia can achieve good results in 80% of cases.

If pituitary tumors are detected, treatment is selected by a gynecologist and neurosurgeon, depending on the size of the tumor. Due to the effectiveness drug treatment to surgical and radiation methods resort extremely rarely. Prolactinomas can grow very slowly or not grow at all, and when taking special medications they decrease in size. But in the absence of a positive effect from drug treatment and the progressive development of the tumor, surgical intervention is resorted to.

Prevention

There are no specific measures to prevent elevated prolactin. Just take care of yourself, don’t get carried away with tanning - prolonged exposure to the sun stimulates the hypothalamus, and it stimulates the pituitary gland. Do not abuse medications, including sleeping pills; it is better to drink motherwort and valerian. If you find discharge from the nipple, then do not try to squeeze it out, this will only stimulate the process of prolactin production. Small discharge from the breast within 2-3 years after childbirth, miscarriage or abortion - a variant of the norm. But it’s always better to get checked and consult with a doctor so as not to miss any disruptions to your hormonal system.

from the article - Traditional medicine, Zh. B. Khanin

... If you are scared or surprised, do not grab your face or hands, as the child may have red or blue birthmarks in such places.