Is prolactin 36 considered high?

Prolactin 36 is not considered abnormally high, it is just a slight increase. This situation is generally caused by physiological factors. It may be that the woman is in her menstrual period or ovulation period. It will automatically decrease after the menstrual period. If prolactin reaches above 100, it may be caused by prolactinoma. In addition, the presence of breast disease will also avoid abnormally high levels. We need to identify the causes of high prolactin.

Prolactin 36 can only be considered a mild increase. Mildly increased prolactin is generally not pathological in clinical practice and is usually due to certain physiological factors or the influence of drugs.

If the increase in prolactin is caused by a prolactinoma, it will often be above 100 or 200, so patients with a prolactin level of 36 do not need to worry too much and can check their prolactin levels again after a period of time. Of course, if the patient experiences other physical discomfort, further examination is necessary to find out the causes of these discomforts. Prolactin 36 alone is not a serious problem.

What is the normal prolactin level?

Prolactin is a polypeptide hormone secreted by specialized cells concentrated on both sides of the posterior pituitary gland. It originates from the same cells as growth hormone. The secretion of prolactin is pulsatile and varies greatly throughout the day. Experts point out that prolactin levels vary greatly throughout the day. For example, the pulse amplitude of prolactin secretion increases rapidly within 1 hour after sleep, and the secretion level remains at a high level during subsequent sleep. When waking up, prolactin begins to drop rapidly. And the concentration of prolactin secretion in the early morning is twice that of noon.

Since prolactin secretion is pulsatile and the values ​​are uncertain, the difference between the lowest and highest prolactin values ​​on the endocrine hormone test reports issued by most hospitals is too large, but it is usually within the range of 90~500uIU/ml. Prolactin must be tested repeatedly and the average value must be taken for calculation. Therefore, the normal value of prolactin for men is 3.46_19.40ngml, and the normal value for women is 5.18_26.53ngml. Below I will introduce to you the symptoms of high prolactin.

1. Menstrual disorders. It includes irregular menstruation, scanty menstruation, amenorrhea, etc., among which amenorrhea is the most common. It often manifests as primary amenorrhea during adolescence and secondary amenorrhea after the reproductive period.

2. Infertility. Abnormally elevated prolactin inhibits ovulation and leads to infertility; mildly elevated prolactin causes luteal insufficiency and can easily lead to miscarriage.

3. Milk leakage. It usually manifests as non-bloody, milky or clear fluid flowing out of or being able to be squeezed out of both breasts, with varying amounts.

4. Headache, dizziness and visual impairment. An enlarged pituitary adenoma can cause compression of the surrounding brain tissue and optic chiasm, as well as cerebrospinal fluid reflux obstruction, resulting in headaches, dizziness, and visual impairment.

5. Low estrogen state. Due to the suppression of ovarian function, vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes and sweating, as well as changes such as breast shrinkage, vaginal dryness, and sexual dysfunction occur.

6. Other symptoms. 20%-30% of patients with hyperprolactinemia suffer from hirsutism and acne, and a small number of patients may become obese.