What Causes Elevated Prolactin Levels?
May 18, 2020
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhao Lianli
Introduction
What Causes Elevated Prolactin Levels?
1. Physiological factors: For example, during pregnancy or the postpartum lactation period in women, excessive emotional stress or intense physical exercise may lead to elevated prolactin levels.
2. Drug-induced factors: For instance, oral contraceptives can increase prolactin secretion from the pituitary gland while decreasing gonadotropin secretion.
3. Disease-related causes: Such as pituitary tumors, hypothalamic disorders, or primary hypothyroidism.
Prolactin—also known as mammotropin or lactogenic hormone—is a protein hormone secreted by acidophilic cells in the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland. Its primary functions include promoting mammary gland development and growth, stimulating and maintaining lactation, and facilitating the formation of luteinizing hormone (LH) receptors on ovarian follicles. So, what causes elevated prolactin levels? The following section addresses this question.
What Causes Elevated Prolactin Levels?
1. Physiological Factors
Elevated prolactin may result from physiological causes. For instance, during pregnancy or the postpartum lactation period, excessive emotional stress or intense physical exercise can lead to transient hyperprolactinemia in women. Therefore, maintaining psychological calmness is recommended to help prevent or mitigate such elevations.
2. Medication-Related Factors
Certain medications may induce hyperprolactinemia. Oral contraceptives, for example, can increase pituitary prolactin secretion while suppressing gonadotropin release, thereby disrupting ovarian function and impairing normal follicular development, ovulation, and fertility. Additionally, prolonged use of drugs such as reserpine, chlorpromazine, and morphine can interfere with dopamine synthesis, absorption, and metabolism—leading to elevated prolactin levels. Fatigue and physical trauma may also trigger increased prolactin secretion.
3. Pathological Causes
(1) Pituitary Tumors
These refer to various tumors arising in the pituitary gland that cause hyperprolactinemia. Typical symptoms include breast tenderness, galactorrhea, oligomenorrhea, and amenorrhea.
(2) Hypothalamic Disorders
Diseases affecting the hypothalamus or adjacent regions can reduce production of prolactin-inhibiting factor (PIF), or increase secretion of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and prolactin-releasing factor (PRF), resulting in elevated prolactin levels.
(3) Primary Hypothyroidism
When thyroid function declines, the hypothalamus detects insufficient thyroid hormone secretion and responds by markedly increasing TRH production. While TRH stimulates thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) release from the pituitary, it simultaneously promotes excessive prolactin secretion—potentially leading to galactorrhea.
The above outlines the main causes of hyperprolactinemia. We hope this information proves helpful.
