One of the most important hormones that regulate human reproductive functions is monomeric prolactin. It is produced in the anterior pituitary and is most important for women. In addition to participating in metabolic processes and the formation of secondary sexual characteristics, the main function of this hormone is the realization of lactation. Prolactin monomer or in a different way - post-PEG - helps in the formation of mammary glands and stimulates the production of milk after childbirth. Therefore, in the period of breastfeeding, an increased level of this hormone is needed. In addition to stimulating lactation, it inhibits ovulation and prevents the onset of pregnancy.
If monomeric prolactin is elevated, a woman can not conceive a child. This hormone can cause not only the disappearance of ovulation, but in general the cessation of menstruation. This leads to infertility and many diseases of the female sexual sphere, so the analysis on its content is often conducted by gynecologists. For the successful onset and course of pregnancy, as well as the postpartum period, it is very important that monomeric prolactin is normal.
At what diseases does it increase?
Such states include:
- a syndrome of galactorrhea, when the secretion of milk from the mammary glands is observed in non-breastfeeding women;
- amenorrhea syndrome, in which more than six months there are no menstruation;
- polycystic ovary ;
- endocrine and autoimmune diseases.
Other causes of elevated monomeric prolactin are the administration of antihistamines, antidepressants and estrogens, a lack of vitamin B, liver cirrhosis, pituitary tumors, or thyroid hyperfunction. The level of this hormone increases after sexual contact, during sleep and under stress.
What is dangerous increase prolactin?
Since this hormone affects ovulation, its elevated level leads to infertility . It can also cause chest pain, discharge from the nipples, weight gain and excessive hairiness. When prolactin monomer (post-PEG) is elevated, it can lead to adenomas, mastopathy and fibrosis.
How correctly to hand over the analysis?
Often an elevated level of hormone is observed when a woman does not comply with certain rules before donating blood:
- analysis for prolactin should be taken from 9 to 12 hours, no less than an hour after sleep;
- Before delivery of blood should be avoided stress, physical activity, give up alcohol, smoking and overeating.
Sometimes inaccurate results may be due to the fact that it does not take into account the form of the hormone in the blood. For example, macroprolactin is a monomeric prolactin in a biologically inactive form, so its level does not affect a woman's health.