They develop more frequently in women but are also found in men.Įlevations of prolactin may be minimal or extreme in prolactinomas, being up to many thousands of times in relation to the reference range. Other causes of prolactin elevation are usually not extreme, such as with stress, breast feeding, pregnancy and certain drug administration. Occasionally, pituitary adenomas are comprised of two types of cells, lactotroph and somatotroph and can produce growth hormone in conjunction with prolactin. Some adenomas can also occur in a MEN Type 1 ( Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia) syndrome. Prolactinomas (lactotroph adenomas) are the most common type of pituitary tumour and are usually benign. Prolactin response to breast feeding decreases over time, when after months of feeding, prolactin elevation is minimally increased above pre-pregnancy levels.īesides pregnancy, the most common cause of raised prolactin levels are certain prescribed medications and prolactinomas prolactin-producing tumours of the pituitary gland. This mirrors oestradiol production which falls at the same time. When the baby feeds, this has an effect on the amount of prolactin secreted by the pituitary, and this is turn controls the amount of milk produced.īy around six weeks after delivery, prolactin may return to pre-pregnancy levels even in mothers still feeding infants. If she does breastfeed, suckling by the infant plays an important role in the production of prolactin. If a woman does not breastfeed, her prolactin soon drops back to low pre-pregnancy levels.

Following childbirth, prolactin helps initiate and maintain the breast milk supply. During pregnancy prolactin, oestrogen and progesterone stimulate breast milk development.

Prolactin levels increase throughout pregnancy with peak levels being found at delivery and just after childbirth. Normally present in low amounts in men and non-pregnant women, prolactin's main role is to promote lactation (breast milk production). Prolactin is a 23kD sized hormone produced by the lactotroph cells of the pituitary gland, a grape-sized organ found at the base of the brain.

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