High Prolactin: Causes, Symptoms, and What You Can Do

When your body makes too much prolactin, a hormone made by the pituitary gland that mainly controls milk production and reproductive health. Also known as hyperprolactinemia, it’s not just a women’s issue—it affects men too, often without obvious signs. This isn’t something you can see in the mirror, but it can mess with your sex drive, your cycle, or even make your breasts leak milk when you’re not pregnant.

What causes it? The most common reason is a small, harmless tumor on the pituitary gland, a pea-sized gland at the base of your brain that controls many hormones. But it’s not always a tumor. Stress, certain antidepressants, thyroid problems, and even chest wall irritation can spike prolactin. Some medications—like antipsychotics and some stomach drugs—do it too. And if your dopamine, a brain chemical that naturally keeps prolactin in check is low, prolactin runs wild. It’s not rare. Studies show up to 1 in 4 people with unexplained infertility have high prolactin.

Men might notice low testosterone symptoms: tiredness, less body hair, smaller muscles, or trouble getting an erection. Women might skip periods, have trouble getting pregnant, or notice milk leaking from their nipples—even if they’ve never had a baby. Both genders can feel moody or lose interest in sex. It’s easy to blame stress or aging, but if this is new for you, it’s worth checking.

Testing is simple: a blood test. No needles in your brain, no scans unless your doctor suspects a tumor. Treatment? Often just one pill—bromocriptine or cabergoline—that lowers prolactin fast. Many people feel better in weeks. If it’s caused by a medication, switching can fix it. If it’s thyroid-related, treating the thyroid helps. And if it’s a tumor? Most are small and don’t need surgery—just monitoring and medicine.

You’ll find real stories here about how people figured out their high prolactin, what treatments helped, and what didn’t. Some found relief after years of misdiagnosis. Others reversed symptoms without surgery. You’ll also see how this connects to other hormone issues—like thyroid imbalances or depression meds—that often show up together. This isn’t about guessing. It’s about knowing what to ask your doctor, what tests to push for, and what options actually work.