Men — When a high blood prolactin concentration interferes with the function of the testicles,
the production of testosterone
(the main male sex hormone), and sperm production. Low testosterone causes decreased energy, sex drive, muscle mass and strength, and blood count (anemia).
What causes high prolactin in males?
If prolactin levels are higher than normal, it often means there is a type of tumor of the pituitary gland, known as
a prolactinoma
. This tumor makes the gland produce too much prolactin. Excess prolactin can cause the production of breast milk in men and in women who are not pregnant or breastfeeding.
Do males have prolactin?
Prolactin is a hormone that affects many different hormones in the body.
Present in both men and women
, it rarely causes problems, but those who are serious about their health should understand what it is and how it impacts the body’s overall health and well-being.
Do men have prolactin levels?
The normal range for prolactin in your blood are:
Males: 2 to 18 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL)
Nonpregnant females: 2 to 29 ng/mL.
Is prolactin produced in males and females?
What is Prolactin? Prolactin is a hormone produced by your pituitary gland which sits at the bottom of the brain. Prolactin causes breasts to grow and develop and causes milk to be made after a baby is born. Normally,
both
men and women have small amounts of prolactin in their blood.
What can I eat to reduce prolactin?
Foods that lower prolactin levels are generally
high in zinc
; think shellfish, beef, turkey and beans. It’s also important to get plenty of B6, so foods like potatoes, bananas, wild salmon, chicken and spinach can help boost those vitamin levels.
Can stress cause high prolactin levels?
Regardless of what the research says, stress does cause physiological changes within the body. It boosts adrenaline and cortisol. These stress hormones, in turn, inhibit the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH).
Stress also increases prolactin production
.
What are the symptoms of high prolactin?
- Infertility, or inability to get pregnant.
- Breast milk leakage in people who aren’t nursing.
- Absent periods, infrequent periods, or irregular periods.
- Loss of interest in sex.
- Painful or uncomfortable intercourse.
- Vaginal dryness.
- Acne.
- Hirsutism , excess body and facial hair growth.
What causes low prolactin in males?
Men who had
higher body mass indexes and higher glucose levels
tended to have lower levels of prolactin. In addition, men who engaged in less physical activity and reported feeling unhealthier also had lower prolactin levels.
What is the normal level of prolactin in males?
Normal Results
The normal values for prolactin are: Men:
less than 20 ng/mL (425 μg/L)
Nonpregnant women: less than 25 ng/mL (25 μg/L)
How does prolactin affect mood?
Moreover, PRL modulates
anxiety and depressive-like behaviors
. PRL also regulates neurogenesis, the generation of new neurons, in both the subventricular zone (SVZ) and the hippocampus. PRL levels and environmental conditions may induce changes in neurogenesis, potentially leading to an impact on emotional behavior.
How can men increase prolactin levels?
- changing your diet and keeping your stress levels down.
- stopping high-intensity workouts or activities that overwhelm you.
- avoiding clothing that makes your chest uncomfortable.
- avoiding activities and clothing that overstimulate your nipples.
- taking vitamin B-6 and vitamin E supplements.
Does high prolactin affect sleep?
Prolactin levels are
associated with slow-wave sleep
, and interrupted sleep results in blunting of the nighttime rise. Similarly, shift workers who superimpose usual sleep and wake times have a rise in prolactin after sleep, but the amplitude of the rise is blunted.
Can you have high prolactin and not have a tumor?
“Patients with high prolactin levels who have few or no symptoms and no demonstrable pituitary tumor
may not need treatment
, but infertile or pregnant patients, and individuals with bothersome symptoms require specialized treatment depending on the cause of their condition,” Melmed said in a press release.
What food contains prolactin?
Eating
apricots and dates
can increase prolactin, which is the hormone that tells your body to produce milk. Apricots contain essential nutrients such as dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C and potassium. Fresh is better than canned.
Does caffeine increase prolactin levels?
Furthermore, they show that
acute administration of caffeine stimulates prolactin secretion
via an action that is independent of oestradiol feedback and which we suggest, may involve the ACTH/adrenal axis.
