17-07-2014, 05:01 AM
Prolactin is a hormone that’s made by your pituitary gland.
High levels of prolactin suppress TSH or Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone. Prolactin is balanced by progesterone and dopamine, so when people have a dopamine deficiency, or progesterone deficiency, their prolactin will increase, and that will decrease the function of the pituitary’s production of thyroid-stimulating hormone.
The imbalance will show up on your labs, perhaps, if you’re lucky, as the TSH is low, but not quite out of the reference range. This is why it’s important to know that there are “optimal” or “functional” levels. .
Prolactin also suppresses luteinizing hormone (LH) in women. Excess prolactin can cause infertility. In men, excess prolactin depresses testosterone so they have low libido. High prolactin can cause tumors that are called prolactinomas.
Prolactin is stimulated by:
stress
low dopamine
low tyrosine
a lack of protein in the diet
oestrogen
contraceptives/HRT
antipsychotics
tranquillisers
gastro-oesophageal reflux drugs
some cancer drugs
some anti-hypertensive drugs
ramelteon (a sleep agent)
any drug which depletes dopamine
Minoxidil (used to promote hair growth in men)
some SSRI and SNRI medications
disease in the liver, kidneys, ovaries and thyroid
prolactinoma (a pituitary tumour)
excess thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), usually in primary hypothyroidism
pregnancy and lactation
some sexual disorders
polycystic ovary syndrome
phytoestrogens
The major source of prolactin are specialised cells called lactotrophs found in the anterior pituitary. Although prolactin is also synthesised and secreted by other tissues such as endothelial, neuronal, and immune cells.
High levels of prolactin suppress TSH or Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone. Prolactin is balanced by progesterone and dopamine, so when people have a dopamine deficiency, or progesterone deficiency, their prolactin will increase, and that will decrease the function of the pituitary’s production of thyroid-stimulating hormone.
The imbalance will show up on your labs, perhaps, if you’re lucky, as the TSH is low, but not quite out of the reference range. This is why it’s important to know that there are “optimal” or “functional” levels. .
Prolactin also suppresses luteinizing hormone (LH) in women. Excess prolactin can cause infertility. In men, excess prolactin depresses testosterone so they have low libido. High prolactin can cause tumors that are called prolactinomas.
Prolactin is stimulated by:
stress
low dopamine
low tyrosine
a lack of protein in the diet
oestrogen
contraceptives/HRT
antipsychotics
tranquillisers
gastro-oesophageal reflux drugs
some cancer drugs
some anti-hypertensive drugs
ramelteon (a sleep agent)
any drug which depletes dopamine
Minoxidil (used to promote hair growth in men)
some SSRI and SNRI medications
disease in the liver, kidneys, ovaries and thyroid
prolactinoma (a pituitary tumour)
excess thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), usually in primary hypothyroidism
pregnancy and lactation
some sexual disorders
polycystic ovary syndrome
phytoestrogens
The major source of prolactin are specialised cells called lactotrophs found in the anterior pituitary. Although prolactin is also synthesised and secreted by other tissues such as endothelial, neuronal, and immune cells.