Prolactin Levels for Pregnancy – What Is Normal to Conceive

Key Takeaways

• Prolactin levels naturally rise during pregnancy as the body prepares for breastfeeding.
• High prolactin before pregnancy can interfere with ovulation and make conception more difficult.
• Low prolactin may occur with certain pituitary conditions but does not necessarily prevent pregnancy.
• Prolactin testing is not routinely required during pregnancy and is usually done when symptoms or medical history indicate a need.

Prolactin levels normally rise throughout pregnancy as the body prepares the breasts for milk production after birth. A study of 50 uncomplicated pregnancies found that median early pregnancy prolactin levels were 28.8 ng/mL, increasing to 216 ng/mL by the third trimester (1).

So, what are considered high, low, or normal prolactin levels during pregnancy? This article explains typical prolactin ranges by trimester, what unusually high or low levels may mean, and when you should discuss your results with your healthcare provider.

What Is Prolactin?

Originating from the pituitary gland, prolactin is a hormone that helps in the production of breast milk. Both men and women have prolactin in their blood. In women, prolactin plays an important role in fertility, menstruation and sex drive. In men, prolactin plays a major role in the production of testosterone, which thus stimulates the production of sperm (2).

What Are the Normal Prolactin Levels to Get Pregnant?

For women who are not pregnant, the average prolactin levels should be between 2 and 29 ng/ml (nanograms per millilitre). Women whose prolactin levels fall in this range have a better chance of conceiving (3).

Can You Get Pregnant With Low Prolactin Levels?

If your pituitary gland is not working properly, your prolactin levels will be low. This is known as hypopituitarism. A severe case of hypopituitarism can also lead to hypothyroidism. However, this is not considered to be a problem, as conceiving a child is possible even with low prolactin levels (4).

Can You Get Pregnant With High Prolactin Levels?

Yes, pregnancy is possible with high prolactin levels, although elevated prolactin before pregnancy can sometimes affect ovulation and make conception more difficult. This condition, known as hyperprolactinemia, can disrupt the menstrual cycle and, in some cases, contribute to infertility (5).

But what about hyperprolactinemia in pregnancy? Prolactin naturally rises during pregnancy to prepare the breasts for breastfeeding, so a higher level does not necessarily indicate a problem (6). What matters is whether the level is appropriate for your stage of pregnancy and whether you have any related symptoms.

Symptoms of High Prolactin Levels

You will be advised to have your prolactin levels checked if you have the following (7):

• Producing breast milk when you are neither pregnant nor a new mother
• Low sex drive
• Impotency
• Infertility
• Lack of menstrual period or irregular menstrual cycle
• Anovulation (i.e. absence of ovulation)
• Weight gain
• Vision problems
• Headaches
• Breast tenderness
• Hot flashes or vaginal dryness

Causes of High Prolactin Levels

There are many things that can cause high levels of prolactin. Some of these are (7):

1. Medication that falls into the category of anti-convulsants, anti-hypertensive drugs and opiates
2. Hypothyroidism
3. Anorexia (eating disorder)
4. Lack of sleep
5. Extreme stress
6. Strenuous exercise
7. Tumour in the pituitary gland
8. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

How Is High Prolactin Diagnosed?

A blood test can determine whether or not the above-mentioned symptoms are a result of high prolactin levels. If not, these symptoms can also be a result of prolactinoma (i.e., the presence of a tumour). Prolactinoma is a benign tumour in the pituitary gland that causes an increased secretion of prolactin (8).

The first thing your doctor will ask you with regard to infertility issues or irregularity in your menstrual cycle is if you are taking medication. Along with this, your thyroid function will be tested. In some cases, an MRI or CT scan can be used to diagnose the problem.

Prolactin Tests During Pregnancy

Your doctor may consider a prolactin test during pregnancy if:

• You experience persistent headaches or changes in vision, which may require evaluation for an underlying hormonal or pituitary issue.
• You had difficulty conceiving before pregnancy, particularly when abnormal prolactin levels were suspected.
• You have a history of pituitary gland problems, which can affect prolactin production.

Prolactin testing is not usually part of routine pregnancy blood work. Instead, it may be ordered when symptoms, medical history, or other findings make hormone testing appropriate.

Medical Treatment for High Prolactin Levels

Medication such as bromocriptine is commonly prescribed to treat high prolactin levels as it can help the brain to produce dopamine. It can also shrink the prolactinoma tumours if present. Cabergoline is a newer drug for prolactinoma that is meant to have fewer side effects (8). If you find yourself sensitive to the other drugs, this one may work best.

How to Lower Prolactin Levels to Get Pregnant Naturally?

While there are medicinal remedies to reduce the levels of prolactin for pregnancy, there are pros and cons to this method. While some women find that medication works for them, it doesn’t work for others. Further, once the woman stops the medication, her prolactin levels may go back to being high. This is why natural ways of treating prolactin levels are preferred. Here are a few of them:

1. Vitamins and Supplements

Consuming vitamin and mineral supplements such as vitamin B6, vitamin E and SAM-e (s-adenosyl methionine) can be beneficial in reducing the prolactin levels in the body. Vitamin B6 is associated with the metabolism and production of neurotransmitters like dopamine; vitamin E prevents the prolactin levels from rising (9), and SAM-e strengthens the joints, detoxifies the liver and boosts mood and brain functioning.

2. Herbal Teas

Drinking teas with ingredients such as white peony, peppermint, chaste berry, sage and others are very helpful as these ingredients have been used to treat disorders in women for hundreds of years as they all help in regulating a woman’s menstrual cycle.

3. Lifestyle Changes

As always, your lifestyle plays a huge role in helping your body function well. Habits like smoking, consuming alcohol and not getting enough exercise lead to problems while trying to conceive due to the changes and imbalances they cause to your hormones. Including a healthy diet is vital as it will improve the health of all your organs, especially the liver. A healthy diet will also help keep all the hormones in check, including prolactin. If you have thyroid, it can cause hyperprolactinemia. Hence, lowering stress levels, cutting back iodine intake, and refraining from a goitrogenic diet, etc., can aid in lowering the condition.

Many couples today have problems conceiving due to the high levels of prolactin. The biggest contributing factor to this is the lack of exercise, stress, overwork and unhealthy eating. Even a slight drop in prolactin levels can improve the chances of a couple conceiving a child.

FAQs

1. Can I undergo IVF with high prolactin?

Before starting with In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatments, it is highly recommended to assess your prolactin levels. High levels of prolactin can significantly hinder the success of IVF treatment. Not only do high prolactin levels hinder proper embryo development and implantation, but they can also negatively impact sperm function, leading to reduced reproductive capacity. Therefore, before initiating IVF treatments, it becomes imperative to have normal prolactin levels to get pregnant and ensure successful outcomes.

2. Does high prolactin lead to miscarriage?

High prolactin and pregnancy are not necessarily linked to miscarriage. While elevated prolactin levels before conception may affect ovulation and fertility, prolactin naturally rises during pregnancy. If prolactin levels are unusually high, your healthcare provider may evaluate the underlying cause and other factors that could affect the pregnancy rather than assuming that high prolactin itself causes miscarriage.

3. Can prolactin levels predict pregnancy?

A prolactin test is not used to confirm pregnancy. Pregnancy is usually confirmed with a test that detects human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), while prolactin testing is used to assess prolactin levels when medically indicated.

4. Is a prolactin test safe during pregnancy?

Yes, a prolactin blood test is generally safe during pregnancy. It only requires a small blood sample taken from a vein, so there is no exposure to radiation or any procedure that affects the baby.

If you notice that you have any of the symptoms mentioned here, it is worth visiting a doctor so you can get your prolactin levels checked immediately. Opting for natural treatment is a better option as it is a more permanent solution.

Also Read:

DIY Pregnancy Tests
When and How to Take Pregnancy Tests
Blood Test for Pregnancy Confirmation

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Sources References

1. PubMed Central – Hormone concentrations throughout uncomplicated pregnancies: a longitudinal study

2. Cleveland Clinic – Prolactin

3. PubMed Central – An assessment of serum prolactin levels among infertile women with galactorrhea attending a gynecological clinic North-West Nigeria

4. Cleveland Clinic – Hypopituitarism

5. Cleveland Clinic – Hyperprolactinemia

6. AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE – HYPERPROLACTINEMIA (HIGH PROLACTIN LEVELS)

7. Health New Zealand – High prolactin and prolactinomas

8. Cleveland Clinic – Prolactinoma

9. PubMed – Effect of vitamin E therapy on sexual functions of uremic patients in hemodialysis