What Causes Elevated Prolactin Levels?
Disease description:
Recently, my menstrual flow has become significantly lighter, and I’ve also experienced galactorrhea. However, I am not pregnant. After examination, my doctor diagnosed me with hyperprolactinemia. What causes elevated prolactin levels?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yu Yunying
Elevated prolactin levels can result from numerous causes. The most common is excessive secretion by the pituitary gland—a polypeptide hormone. Second, hypothyroidism; third, chronic renal failure; fourth, certain medications—such as dopamine receptor antagonists and estrogen; and fifth, stress responses, including intense physical stimuli like vigorous exercise or trauma, which can cause a transient, marked increase in prolactin.
