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Original poster

Prolactin and testosterone

4 replies

Hibiscusroses · 05/03/2023 19:59

My GP sent me for bloods the other week - I had been wondering if I was perimenopausal. I'm 46, with a 2 year old DC who still has a nighttime feed. All blood results were normal apart from:

120 min serum prolactin level: 893 mlU/L (normal range 102-496)

Serum testosterone: 2.4 nmol/L (normal range: -1.7)

Free androgen index: 6.5 (normal 0-6)

Does anyone have any experience/knowledge they could share here please?

Thanks

OP posts:
KvotheTheBloodless · 05/03/2023 20:16

Your prolactin level is on the high side, which is potentially causing your menopausal symptoms. However: it's not very high, given that you're still breastfeeding (albeit only once a day), so on its own it's not terribly concerning. There's a very slight chance of it being a prolactinoma (a small, benign tumour on your pituitary gland, easily treatable), but I'd not worry too much with that level of prolactin.

The other two tests indicate PCOS - do you have this/symptoms of it? It can present as similar to peri-menopause.

iloveblue · 05/03/2023 20:32

Hi.

I have recently had bloods done for perimenopause. I'm 45.
I'm 99% sure I have been Peri for at least 18 months - periods are all over the place, plus pretty much every other symptom going.

My Serum Prolactin level was 510 which is just out of normal range so they said it was acceptable.

My Serum Testosterone was 0.8 (normal)

However, my Serum LH was 17.2 (normal 4 - 14) and my Serum FSH was 32.3 (normal 3 - 13).

I have a follow up appointment and have got to have the blood tests repeated. This is the second set I've had - the first all came back normal.
Apparently, the results can fluctuate a lot, hence the repetition.

What has the GP said? Has there been any follow up?

Sunnyshoeshine · 05/03/2023 20:40

KvotheTheBloodless · 05/03/2023 20:16

Your prolactin level is on the high side, which is potentially causing your menopausal symptoms. However: it's not very high, given that you're still breastfeeding (albeit only once a day), so on its own it's not terribly concerning. There's a very slight chance of it being a prolactinoma (a small, benign tumour on your pituitary gland, easily treatable), but I'd not worry too much with that level of prolactin.

The other two tests indicate PCOS - do you have this/symptoms of it? It can present as similar to peri-menopause.

High prolactin levels are also a sign of PCOS. It was how mine was diagnosed before i had ever been pregnant.

Original poster
Hibiscusroses · 05/03/2023 21:09

I had never thought about PCOS. I don't have any of the more common symptoms like acne/excess body hair/fertility issues. The reason I'd wondered about peri was that I've had one period in 2 years and also I've put on weight around my middle that I can't seem to shift. I was also wondering about diabetes because I'm constantly thirsty and craving sugar but those results came back normal too.

Can PCOS really present so "late" in life?

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