Hormone panel
Prolactin
Measured in ng/mL
What it measures
A pituitary hormone that, when elevated, suppresses the reproductive axis.
Why it is tracked
An elevated prolactin is an important and treatable cause of low testosterone and low libido, and can indicate a pituitary adenoma. Worth excluding before attributing symptoms to age.
What a provider considers
- Raised by several common medications including antipsychotics
- Also raised by stress and recent nipple stimulation, so recheck before acting
- Markedly elevated values warrant pituitary imaging
Reference ranges vary between laboratories and a single result rarely means much on its own. Interpretation depends on your symptoms, your other markers and the trend over time — which is what your provider reviews.