High prolactin level?

[mangobrain]

I've been having blood tests to determine whether or not my hormones are preventing me from getting pregnant. All came back normal apart from my test for prolactin which came back high. Doc barely said anything and has booked me in for another 5 bottles of bloods. :-(

I've read that high levels of prolactin are normally found in pregnant or breast feeding women. Which I am neither.....

Wondering if anyone else has this high level of prolactin and what caused it? Also is it linked to not being able to get pregnant.

Thank you

[NewbyTTC]

Hi

I used to take blood as part of one of my previous jobs, and high prolactin levels was one of the things I used to have to keep an eye out for. Did the doc say how high the prolactin level was? A "normal" level for non-pregnant or breast feeding woman (men can also have prolactin present in their bodies, though at a slightly lower level) is up to around 500mIU/L; if the level is only a couple of hundred higher, it's something to keep an eye on, but not be too concerned about. If it's a lot higher than that, it can be indicative of a tumour on the pituitary gland; though high prolactin levels can also be caused as a side effect of certain medications (including HRT or anti-psychotic medication).

High prolactin levels can also affect the levels of other hormones, and so can affect your cycle and fertility levels.

Although I know a little about this, I'm by no means an expert, so would probably be worth asking for more info from your doc, or doing some more research online; looking up prolactinemia or hyperprolactinemia (terms for high prolactin levels) should throw up a few results.

I have PCOS, so I know what it's like with having dodgy hormone levels causing havoc in your body!

Good luck! :)

[lily06]

I have high prolactin, discovered when they were looking at all my hormone levels. Its about 900ish and they did some repeat bloods then sent me for an MRI to rule out tumor. In the end they treated it with bromocriptine tablets. I was TTC and got pregnant the first month of bromocriptine, so only took it for about 4 weeks or so. I had already been on clomid for about 4 months because I was not ovulating every month and day 21 progesterone was showing as low. As an aside, being on the bromocriptine was the best I had felt in a very long time, so much less anxious and just better able to cope with everyday life. Did make me wonder if high prolactin had been the cause of anxiety issues. Sadly no longer pg, but definately going to ask about going back on bromocriptine once all my hormone levels are back to baseline and we want to start TTC again. Hope that helps.