What causes high prolactin in women?

For female friends, when they go to the hospital for a check-up during pregnancy, there will be a prolactin test, which is crucial to the health of pregnant women. For prolactin, too high or too low levels can seriously affect health. So what is the reason for high prolactin levels in women? This is what many female friends want to know. Here I will give you a brief introduction to this issue, hoping it can help you.

What causes high prolactin levels in women?

There are many reasons for high prolactin levels, but the most common ones are as follows:

1. Women during breastfeeding period. At this time, high prolactin levels are a normal physiological phenomenon. When a mother gives birth to a lovely baby, the milk that is most needed and has the most nutritional value will be automatically secreted to feed the baby continuously. The prolactin produced by the pituitary gland plays an indispensable role in this.

2. Hypothalamic and pituitary diseases. This is one of the main reasons for high prolactin levels. For example, a pituitary tumor can secrete prolactin without control, causing the prolactin level in the blood to be much higher than normal.

3. Hypothyroidism and kidney dysfunction.

4. Tumors in other parts of the body, such as ovarian cancer and kidney cancer.

5. Some drugs can also cause high levels of prolactin. Long-term oral use of drugs such as reserpine, chlorpromazine, methyldopa, and some other oral contraceptives can also cause increased prolactin secretion, which is one of the reasons why you cannot get pregnant immediately after stopping oral contraceptives.

The above is an introduction to the reasons why women have high prolactin levels. Now you know it! No matter what causes high prolactin levels in women, timely treatment is very necessary. Because if a woman's prolactin level is too high, it is very dangerous for the pregnant woman and the baby in the womb as there is a risk of miscarriage.