Does High Prolactin Cause Breast Enlargement
High prolactin levels in non pregnant females can be caused by a number of factors. The most common cause is stress, which can increase your levels of the hormone. Other causes include taking certain medications, such as birth control pills or antidepressants.
High prolactin symptoms in females include breast enlargement and milk production, as well as headaches and weight gain. If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to see your doctor right away so they can determine whether or not you have high prolactin levels and help you get them under control.
high prolactin symptoms female
Signs That Your Prolactin Levels Are Too High
Hyperprolactinemia primarily affects women, however it can sometimes affect men. Three out of five women with a reproductive problem are estimated to have elevated prolactin levels. 1
In women, hyperprolactinemia can manifest itself in a variety of ways:1
Unsteady cycles
Periods of Absence
Lack of sexual desire (sex drive)
Galactorrhea (the production of breast milk when you are not pregnant or nursing) (the production of breast milk when you are not pregnant or breastfeeding)
Infertility (related to the absence of ovulation) (due to the absence of ovulation)
A few of sweltering flashes
Sensation of dryness in the genital area
Gaining weight
Soreness in the Breasts
3
Acne
Hirsutism (excess body and face hair growth) (excess body and facial hair growth)
Symptoms of Excess Prolactin in Men
Male hyperprolactinemia symptoms are less obvious and more generalized than female hyperprolactinemia symptoms, making diagnosis more challenging.
Male hyperprolactinemia causes a variety of symptoms.
Male sexual dysfunction/loss of libido
Male sexual dysfunction, or erection problems.
Infertility (due to low sperm production) (due to decreased sperm production)
2
Gynecomastia (abnormal breast enlargement) (abnormal breast enlargement)
Galactorrhea (uncommon but possible) (uncommon but possible)
4
Hyperprolactinemia and Its Effects on Mood
Hormones, particularly sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone, have a significant impact on our emotional states. These and other hormones interact to induce hyperprolactinemia.
Diseases of the ovaries or testes, which generate the hormones estrogen and testosterone, have been linked to hyperprolactinemia. An imbalance of sex hormones and other hormones that affect mood can also result from problems with the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, or adrenal glands (HPA axis) (like dopamine). 5
Persons with hyperprolactinemia may experience profound emotional shifts as a result of these modifications. When prolactin levels rise and stay high for an extended period of time, symptoms tend to become more severe.
Hyperprolactinemia can lead to a variety of emotional side effects, including:6
Anxiety\sDepression
Possessing a hostile attitude and a short fuse
Somatization (physical symptoms coming from psychological discomfort, such as headaches, chest pain, back pain, nausea, and weariness) (physical symptoms arising from psychological distress, such as headaches, chest pain, back pain, nausea, and fatigue)
Psychosis (a lack of touch with reality) (a loss of touch with reality)
Factors Contributing to Excess Prolactin
The pituitary gland (a pea-sized bodily part situated at the base of the brain) secretes prolactin in response to the presence of two hormones:
The hormone dopamine, secreted by the adrenal glands, inhibits the synthesis of prolactin.
Releasing thyrotropin (TRH): The hypothalamus secretes a hormone that stimulates the synthesis of prolactin. 1
Abnormally high prolactin levels are caused by either a reduction in dopamine production or an increase in TRH production, or both.
Medications or conditions that interfere with the body’s HPA axis function might be to blame.
Common triggers for elevated prolactin levels include:4
Pituitary adenomas, craniopharyngiomas, and meningiomas are all examples of benign brain tumors.
The pituitary, the adrenal, and the hypothalamus are particularly vulnerable to damage from trauma, which can occur during procedures like radiation therapy or surgical removal.
A rise in TRH is seen in hypothyroidism, a condition when the thyroid gland does not generate adequate thyroid hormones.
High amounts of the stress hormone cortisol are the root cause of Cushing’s syndrome.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and liver disease are examples of systemic disorders that can have an effect on the endocrine system.
Medications: certain antidepressants, antipsychotics, opioids, estrogen, H2 blockers, and hypertension medicines can all raise prolactin levels by stimulating its release.
When the pituitary gland generates an abnormally high amount of growth hormone (GH), a condition known as acromegaly, occurs.
Inflammation of the pituitary gland, caused by lymphocytic hypophysitis, an autoimmune disorder.
Rathke’s cyst is a fluid-filled tumor that forms in the space between the various components of the pituitary gland.
Dysgerminoma, a subtype of ovarian cancer, and brain metastases are both examples of malignancies (cancers that have spread to the brain).
what causes high prolactin in females
Factors That May Increase Prolactin Levels
Once a mutation occurs in a prolactin-producing cell in the pituitary gland, the result is a prolactinoma. The mutation promotes rapid cell division, leading to an abundance of cells that secrete an abnormally high level of prolactin. In addition to prolactin, about 10% of people also make growth hormone.
The majority of prolactinomas are found in individuals with no known family history of the disease, although occasionally they are found as part of a syndrome known as multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1).
The majority of prolactinomas, known as microadenomas, never grow larger than 1 centimeter (0.4 inches) in diameter. Macroadenomas refer to those that are significantly bigger than adenoma tumors, often measuring several centimeters.