What does 'high prolactin levels' mean?

In this latter group raised prolactin may be due to liver or kidney disease; or ovarian disease such as...



I have just been diagnosed with high prolactin levels and I can't seem to get a straight answer from anything that I have researched.

What exactly does it mean for me? Will it cause problems in relation to having children in the future?

I would be very grateful if someone could help me with my query.


I'm sorry that you have had difficulty getting a straight answer about this finding. I suspect that I know why and for the same reason why my reply may be less precise than you would wish.


Prolactin is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland, which lies under the brain in the skull. Increased levels of prolactin will occur for several reasons.

They occur naturally in pregnancy and lactation, but will also be raised in stress.

They may occur after taking certain medication such as oestrogens or as a result of illness.

In this latter group raised prolactin may be due to liver or kidney disease; or ovarian disease such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), when thyroid hormone production is low.


It could also be caused as a result of prolactin-producing growths of the pituitary gland.

Finally, it may occur for none of these reasons – so called idiopathic hyperprolactinaemia. This simply means excess production for no clear cause.

From this long and incomplete list you can see that a raised prolactin level in the blood is a starting point for finding out why. This requires further tests and observation.

Once the cause is identified the question of treatment can be considered. It is at this point that your concern about having children can be carefully discussed and properly assessed.

Certainly at this stage it is reasonable to believe that all will be well.

Depending on what is found to be the cause of the raised prolactin levels, you may be asked to help in deciding what the best way of treating it should be.

I suspect my answer is as vague as some you have had already, but it really is necessary to find out why this is happening to you. I wish you all the best.

Yours sincerely

The NetDoctor Medical Team

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