When your body produces too much or too little prolactin, a hormone made by the pituitary gland that mainly controls milk production and plays a role in fertility and metabolism. Also known as lactogenic hormone, it doesn’t just matter for breastfeeding women—it affects men and non-pregnant people too. High prolactin levels can show up as missed periods, low sex drive, or even breast milk when you’re not pregnant. Low levels might not cause obvious symptoms but can still hint at deeper hormone problems.
Many things can throw prolactin out of balance. A small benign tumor on the pituitary gland—called a prolactinoma—is one of the most common causes of high levels. But it’s not always the tumor. Certain medications, like antipsychotics, antidepressants, and even some stomach drugs, can spike prolactin. Stress, sleep, and even nipple stimulation can temporarily raise it. On the flip side, low prolactin often links to pituitary damage, hypothyroidism, or long-term use of dopamine-boosting drugs. If you’ve had a head injury or radiation near your brain, your prolactin might be low without you even knowing.
Testing prolactin isn’t just about checking a number. It’s about connecting the dots. If you’re having trouble getting pregnant, feeling tired all the time, or noticing unexplained breast changes, your doctor might check your prolactin along with thyroid function, a key player in energy, weight, and menstrual cycles, and estrogen or testosterone, the sex hormones that interact closely with prolactin. You can’t treat high prolactin without knowing why it’s high. And you can’t fix a hormone imbalance if you’re ignoring the meds you’re taking.
The posts below cover real cases where hormone shifts—like prolactin, thyroid, or dopamine—triggered unexpected side effects. You’ll find how medications like antipsychotics and antidepressants can alter prolactin, why some people get breast discharge without pregnancy, and how lab tests help untangle confusing symptoms. Whether you’re trying to get pregnant, managing a mental health condition, or just wondering why you feel off, these articles give you the facts without the fluff.
Nutrition plays a key role in managing hyperprolactinaemia by supporting dopamine production and reducing prolactin-triggering foods. Learn which foods help and which to avoid for natural hormone balance.
