Prolactin: the norm in women by age. What does prolactin affect in women?

Hormones are a very important component of the human body. With their help, the normal functioning of many organs and systems is carried out, and hormonal failure can lead to various diseases and dysfunctions in the body. One of the main hormones is prolactin, because often it is he who causes infertility. So what is it and what does prolactin in women affect, we will analyze in the article.

What is prolactin

Prolactin is a hormone that produces the pituitary gland. But it was also found in the mammary glands, heart, in the uterus, ovaries, spleen, pancreas and in certain parts of the central nervous system. Its main task is the implementation of lactation. Also, prolactin is responsible for the growth of the mammary glands and plays a large role in the process of procreation, maintaining the level of progesterone during pregnancy at the proper level, which helps the fetus develop normally without the threat of interruption. The prolactin norm in women is divided by age or during pregnancy and lactation.

In the human body there are four forms of the hormone:

• monomeric or small (molecular weight 22,000);
• dimeric, or large (MM 50,000);
• three-dimensional (MM 100,000);
• glycosylated (MM 25,000).

In the most active phase, monomeric prolactin acts. It makes up about 80% of the total hormone in the body. The detection of an increase in the concentration in the blood of other forms may indicate the development of pathological conditions in the body.

Prolactin Functions

All the functions that the hormone performs are still not fully understood. It is known that the main effect of prolactin has on lactation, reproductive and sexual functions. In addition, he participates in processes such as:

• development and growth of mammary glands;
• after childbirth, this hormone forms the maternal instinct;
• glandular tissue formation in the third trimester of pregnancy;
• stimulation of progesterone during pregnancy;
• also maintains a high level of estrogen during pregnancy;
• delays ovulation and performs a kind of contraceptive function during lactation;
• protects the fetus from the mother’s immunity;
• reduces pain, this is especially true during childbirth. It is noted that the higher the prolactin in the blood of a woman, the higher her pain threshold;
• support of water-salt balance and metabolic processes in the body;
• stimulation of the first breath of the newborn;
• stimulates the immune system, participating in the production of interferons;
• prolactin may be involved in the development of new blood vessels;
• provides an orgasm after intercourse;
• prolactin also responds to any stress state with its increase. This happens to increase the adaptive capacity of the body.

Prolactin works closely with other hormones, which ensures a stable hormonal background, in which the process of conception, gestation and breastfeeding takes place without pathologies.

Norm Prolactin

The norm of prolactin in women will depend not only on age, but also on the duration of pregnancy or on the day of the menstrual cycle. Below are tables of normal hormone values.

During breastfeeding and pregnancy, significant changes occur in the body. In this regard, the norm of prolactin in the blood of women increases 10-20 times. Consider the table of values.

The norm of prolactin in the blood of women will depend on the day of the cycle.

It happens that deviations from the norm of prolactin in women occur. Both lowering and increasing values ​​can indicate serious violations in the body.

Hyperprolactinemia and its causes

If, according to the results of the analyzes, prolactin is higher than normal in women, they talk about the development of hyperprolactinemia. A large number of factors, both physiological and symptomatic of serious diseases, can influence the increase in the hormone.

Physiological reasons include the following:

• stress and emotional stress;
• increase during intercourse;
• deep sleep;
• high physical activity;
• protein-rich foods;
• pregnancy;
• lactation.

Also, an increase in prolactin in women happens when taking certain medications. These include:

• some oral contraceptives;
• psychotropic drugs;
• antiemetic;
• medicines to treat hypertension and ulcers.

If the development of pathological conditions is not observed during their administration, drug withdrawal is not required. But the decision should be made by the attending physician.

Pathological causes that affect prolactin increase include:

• thyroid dysfunction ;
• tumor processes and diseases of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland;
• polycystic ovary syndrome;
• hepatitis;
• breast surgery;
• renal and adrenal insufficiency;
• diabetes;
• inflammatory processes;
• cirrhosis of the liver;
• abortion;
• endometriosis.

Symptoms of increased prolactin

Due to the fact that the symptoms with an increase in the hormone are quite blurred, women often do not pay attention to signs, which can aggravate the situation and provoke the development of complications.

Symptoms that may indicate an increase in hormone levels include:

• galactorrhea - discharge from the chest, not associated with lactation;
• menstrual irregularities. There may be both slight delays and a complete absence of menstruation for several cycles. This symptom is the most informative in the diagnosis of hyperprolactinemia.
• lack of ovulation;
• the inability to conceive a child for a long time;
• weight gain is observed, which is difficult to control even with the help of diets and exercise;
• mastopathy
• may be disturbed by frequent headaches and mood swings;
• decreased sexual desire;
• facial and body hair growth may increase;
• visual impairment;
• osteoporosis;
• vaginal dryness by reducing the amount of lubrication.

The effects of increasing hormone

If the increase in prolactin is caused by physiological reasons, then it does not have dangerous consequences. If abnormalities in women are caused by pathological reasons, first of all, it is necessary to find out which disease provoked the growth of the hormone. Once the cause is clarified, treatment should be started as soon as possible in order to minimize the risk of complications.

Increased prolactin can lead to consequences such as:

• infertility;
• uterine hypoplasia;
• oncological formations in the mammary glands or in the ovaries;
• brain tumors;
• blindness;
• obesity;
• development of coronary heart disease;
• osteoporosis;
• ovarian dysfunction;
• depression.

This is a small part of the diseases that a pathological increase in prolactin in a woman can lead to. Hormones interact with many organs and systems of the body, so interruptions in their work can cause a person significant complications. Since the influence of the hormonal background on the functioning of the body has not yet been fully studied, one can only guess what other consequences hyperprolactinemia can cause.

Decreased prolactin and the causes of this condition

Lowering the prolactin norm in a woman is a rather rare occurrence, but, despite this, such a pathology can cause serious disturbances in the work of some organs and systems.

The main reasons for lowering prolactin are:

• post-term pregnancy;
• Sheehan syndrome - pituitary necrosis due to severe bleeding during childbirth or immediately after them;
• taking certain medications.

Indirect reasons for lowering the hormone are:

• brain injuries;
• tumor processes on the pituitary gland;
• radiation therapy;
• diabetes insipidus;
• endocrine diseases;
• inflammatory processes in the ovaries;
• menopause;
• stress
• diet.

Symptoms of a decrease in prolactin

Hypoprolactinemia leads to impaired reproductive function, to mental disorders, there may be a failure in metabolic processes.

If prolactin in women is below normal, the following symptoms may appear:

• infertility;
• miscarriages in early pregnancy;
• severe obesity;
• swelling;
• enhanced hair growth on the face and body;
• sleep disturbances;
• malfunctions of the menstrual cycle;
• decreased sexual desire;
• fears, phobias.

Despite the large number of possible signs of decreased prolactin, this pathology is detected quite by accident. As a rule, this occurs during a woman's visit to a doctor about the inability to become pregnant.

The effects of reduced prolactin

Low values ​​of the hormone can lead to consequences such as:

• Miscarriage early.
• Small volumes or complete absence of milk during lactation.
• Failures of the menstrual cycle and, as a result, infertility.

Diagnosis of prolactin levels

To determine the amount of hormone, laboratory tests are performed. For this, venous blood taken on an empty stomach is used. But in addition to a blood test for prolactin in women, a more complex diagnosis may be required for a more accurate diagnosis, which includes the following procedures:

• CT or MRI of the brain. In particular, the hypothalamus and pituitary are examined.
• Ultrasound of the thyroid gland, chest and pelvic organs.
• X-ray determination of the size of the pituitary gland.
• Blood test for hormones.
• Determination of cholesterol in the presence of obesity;
• examination by an ophthalmologist.

Hormone preparation

Blood prolactin levels can change throughout the day, and various external factors affect its amount. Therefore, to obtain the most accurate result, it is necessary to carry out a set of preparatory measures:

• A day before a blood test for prolactin in women, abandon physical activity and sexual intercourse.
• On the eve it is not recommended to visit saunas and baths.
• The last meal before analysis should be no later than the evening of the previous day.
• Try to avoid stressful situations and worries.
• Do not irritate the nipples - do not squeeze them, do not crush them.

Treatment

Treatment of increased and decreased prolactin will be aimed primarily at eliminating the causes of this condition.

If there is an increase in the hormone due to tumor processes, drug therapy may be prescribed, but in rare cases, surgical treatment is also used.

Of the drugs, medications aimed at lowering the level of prolactin in the blood can be prescribed. These include Bromocriptine (which is contraindicated in childhood), Dostinex, Pergolid and others.

If the increase in the hormone is insignificant, you can apply measures aimed at correcting your lifestyle: start eating right, give up bad habits, and try not to be nervous. Sometimes a doctor may consider it appropriate to prescribe sedatives.

A diet with elevated prolactin should include foods rich in folic acid and vitamin B12: spinach, liver, broccoli, eggs, vegetables. It is worth limiting foods rich in protein.

At lower values, preventive measures will be the same as with increased ones. For treatment, hormone therapy, strengthening immunity can be used, for tumors - surgical intervention or radiation therapy.

The diet includes foods rich in vitamin B6 and protein: legumes, wheat groats, ginger, nuts, vegetable oils, fish and meat.

Conclusion

Having learned what prolactin shows in women, it remains to add that you should not despair when revealing deviations from the norm of this hormone. Currently, there are drugs that can normalize the hormonal background in a fairly short time. The main thing is to follow all the doctor’s recommendations and take the necessary tests on time.