What Are the Causes of High Prolactin Levels?
There are a number of possible causes of high prolactin levels (also known as hyperprolactinemia). Some common causes of high prolactin levels include:
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding as Causes of High Prolactin Levels
Prolactin stimulates the breast to produce milk during pregnancy. After delivery of the baby, a mother's prolactin levels fall unless she breastfeeds her infant. Each time the baby nurses, prolactin levels rise to maintain milk production.
Prolactinoma and High Prolactin Levels
A prolactinoma is a benign (non-cancerous) tumor of the pituitary gland that produces prolactin. A prolactinoma is the most common type of
pituitary tumor. Symptoms of prolactinoma are caused by too much prolactin in the blood (hyperprolactinemia) or by pressure of the tumor on surrounding tissues.
Certain Medicines as Causes of High Prolactin Levels
Prolactin secretion in the pituitary is normally suppressed by the brain chemical, dopamine. Drugs that block the effects of dopamine at the pituitary or that deplete dopamine stores in the brain may cause the pituitary to secrete prolactin.
These medicines include:
