Prolactin:Hormone found in both male and female, symptoms of high prolactin and treatment
This hormone helps regulate the menstrual cycle in women and sperm production in men. Prolactin is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland which is located near the bottom of the brain. Its production is controlled by other hormones called prolactin-inhibiting factors, which include dopamine. Both men and women tend to have small amounts of prolactin in their blood. In men, prolactin encourages the production of sperm. In women, prolactin helps regulate the menstrual cycle and causes breasts to grow and develop. When a woman is pregnant, her levels of prolactin go up. Once the baby is born, elevated prolactin levels cause the production of milk for breastfeeding. What Is Hyperprolactinemia? If women or men have too much prolactin in their blood, they may have a condition called hyperprolactinemia. High levels of prolactin can interfere with the normal production of hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASR