Why Does Prolactin Increase?!
We talked about how high prolactin levels can cause milk to come out of the breast even without breastfeeding, and we discussed its symptoms! But the important question is:
Why does it increase in the first place? What are the causes that can raise prolactin levels?
We can simply divide the causes into:
1️⃣ Natural (Physiological) Causes:
This can happen in completely healthy people due to:
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Chronic stress and anxiety
- Insomnia or sleep deprivation
- Some intense physical exercises
(and it can also happen temporarily after a breast exam)
2️⃣ Medical Causes:
- A benign tumor in the pituitary gland (prolactinoma)
- Hypothyroidism
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Chronic kidney or liver failure
- Sometimes: after a head injury or brain surgery
3️⃣ Certain Medications:
Some medications affect dopamine (which normally inhibits prolactin secretion), such as:
- Antidepressants and anxiety medications
- Antipsychotics
- Blood pressure medications
- Anti-nausea medications
(even simple meds can cause prolactin to rise!)
This explains why some people take treatment and their prolactin levels drop, but as soon as they stop the medication, it rises again!
Because the underlying cause is still there… and hasn’t been treated!