Prolactin
Private Prolactin testing in London for £49, measuring one pituitary hormone marker with results expected in around 1 day.
Turnaround time
1 business day
Biomarkers count
1
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Overview of the Prolactin Test
The Prolactin blood test measures Prolactin, a hormone produced primarily by the anterior pituitary gland.
The test assesses 1 hormone biomarker: Prolactin.
Prolactin is best known for stimulating breast milk production after childbirth.
It also interacts with the reproductive hormone system in both women and men.
When Prolactin becomes significantly elevated, it can suppress Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone and interfere with normal FSH and LH signalling.
In women, this can lead to irregular or absent periods and impaired ovulation.
In men, high Prolactin can reduce Testosterone production and contribute to low libido, erectile dysfunction or infertility.
Several factors can temporarily increase Prolactin.
These include stress, exercise, sleep, sexual activity, breast stimulation and the discomfort of venepuncture itself.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding naturally cause much higher concentrations.
Several medicines can also raise Prolactin, particularly drugs that interfere with dopamine signalling.
Examples include some antipsychotics, antidepressants and anti-sickness medicines.
Hypothyroidism can increase Prolactin because increased TRH can stimulate pituitary Prolactin release.
Persistently high concentrations can also occur with a prolactinoma, a benign pituitary tumour that secretes Prolactin.
Where an unexpected elevation occurs, repeat testing under rested conditions and Macroprolactin assessment may help determine whether the result is clinically significant.
What Does the Prolactin Test Check?
The test measures circulating Prolactin produced by the pituitary gland. This test measures 1 biomarker.
Prolactin
Measures a pituitary hormone involved in lactation, reproductive hormone regulation, ovulation and gonadal function.
Who May Benefit From the Prolactin Test?
Prolactin testing can be useful during fertility, menstrual, pituitary and reproductive hormone assessment.
Women with irregular or absent periods - Raised Prolactin can suppress ovulation and menstrual cycling.
Women experiencing infertility - Hyperprolactinaemia can interfere with reproductive hormone signalling.
People producing breast milk when not pregnant or breastfeeding - Galactorrhoea can occur with raised Prolactin.
Men with low Testosterone or reduced libido - High Prolactin can suppress gonadal function.
Men with erectile dysfunction and hormonal symptoms - Prolactin can form part of the endocrine assessment.
People with headaches and visual symptoms alongside high Prolactin - A pituitary lesion may require investigation.
People taking medication known to raise Prolactin - Testing can establish the degree of elevation.
People with a previous high Prolactin result - Repeat or Macroprolactin testing can clarify the finding.
How to Prepare
Do not stop prescription medicines simply because they may raise Prolactin.
Medication changes should only be made by the prescribing clinician.
Symptoms and Reasons to Consider the Prolactin Test
Prolactin excess can affect reproductive function and can occasionally cause symptoms related to pituitary enlargement.
Irregular or absent periods - High Prolactin can suppress ovulation.
Difficulty conceiving - Reproductive hormone signalling can be disrupted.
Unexpected breast milk production - Galactorrhoea can occur outside pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Low libido - Reduced sex-hormone activity can occur with persistent elevation.
Erectile dysfunction - High Prolactin can contribute to hormonal erectile dysfunction.
Low Testosterone - Hyperprolactinaemia can suppress testicular hormone production.
Persistent headaches with visual change - Significant pituitary enlargement can occasionally affect surrounding structures.
New visual-field loss, severe headache or neurological symptoms alongside a known pituitary abnormality requires prompt clinical assessment.
One mildly elevated Prolactin result is not enough to diagnose a prolactinoma.
How to Book Your Prolactin Test
The Prolactin test can be booked privately for focused pituitary and reproductive hormone assessment.
Choose the Prolactin
Select the individual Prolactin blood test online.
Select your sample collection option
Choose an in-clinic blood draw or professional home or hotel phlebotomy where suitable.
Attend your appointment
Allow time to rest before collection where possible and a trained healthcare professional will take the blood sample.
Laboratory analysis
Your serum undergoes measurement of Prolactin.
Receive your results securely
Your authorised result is delivered securely and can be interpreted alongside reproductive, thyroid and pituitary investigations.
When Will I Receive My Results?
The current specialist laboratory turnaround for Prolactin is approximately 1 day after laboratory receipt.
The assay is routinely processed and undergoes laboratory quality control and authorisation before release.
Understanding Your Results
A normal Prolactin result indicates the concentration falls within the expected laboratory range for the relevant clinical context.
A raised result can have many explanations.
Stress during the blood draw, medication, pregnancy, breastfeeding and hypothyroidism can all increase Prolactin.
Persistently marked elevation can raise suspicion of a prolactinoma or another pituitary condition.
Macroprolactin can also cause an apparently high laboratory result while having less biological activity.
If Prolactin is unexpectedly elevated, repeat resting measurement and Macroprolactin testing can therefore be useful.
A low result is generally less commonly clinically significant but can occur with pituitary dysfunction.
Interpretation should consider sex, pregnancy status, medication and other pituitary hormones.
Why Book With London Blood Tests?
London Blood Tests provides private Prolactin testing for reproductive and pituitary hormone assessment.
Measures an important pituitary hormone - Prolactin influences fertility, lactation and gonadal function.
Relevant to irregular periods and infertility - Raised levels can suppress ovulation.
Relevant to low Testosterone in men - Hyperprolactinaemia can suppress gonadal hormone production.
Useful when medication may be increasing Prolactin - Testing can quantify the effect.
Can be followed by Macroprolactin - This can clarify selected unexpected elevations.
Rapid laboratory turnaround - Results are expected approximately 1 day after laboratory receipt.
Professional blood collection - Clinic and suitable home or hotel appointments are available.
Clear pricing - The Prolactin test costs £49.
Private Prolactin Blood Test in London
London Blood Tests provides private Prolactin testing for people requiring assessment of pituitary and reproductive hormone function.
The test costs £49 and measures 1 hormone biomarker.
Results are expected approximately 1 day after laboratory receipt.
Unexpected elevation should usually be interpreted with medication, thyroid function and repeat resting measurement where appropriate.