A pituitary hormone that supports lactation and can affect reproductive hormones when elevated.
What is it
Prolactin is produced by the pituitary gland. It supports lactation in women and has secondary effects on reproductive hormone signaling in both sexes.
Why it's measured
Elevated prolactin can suppress LH and FSH and has been associated with menstrual changes in women and reduced testosterone in men in research literature.
Reference range
Standard laboratory reference
Men: 2 – 18 / Women: 3 – 30 ng/mL
Reference ranges vary by laboratory. Your individual reference range will appear on your test report and should be interpreted by your physician in the context of your overall health profile.
Where does your number land?
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Drag to your own Prolactin result.
Educational only, not a diagnosis. Ranges vary by laboratory. See which panel includes Prolactin.
What results may indicate
Elevated
Has been associated with pituitary adenomas, certain medications, and reproductive hormone changes — warrants clinical evaluation.
Lower
Is generally not clinically significant.
These associations are general. They are not a personal diagnosis or prediction. Discuss your individual results with your physician in the context of your full health profile.
When it's measured
Often measured in workups for low testosterone, menstrual irregularity, or galactorrhea.
Related markers
Common questions
Prolactin is produced by the pituitary gland. It supports lactation in women and has secondary effects on reproductive hormone signaling in both sexes.
It's one of the markers used to build a fuller picture of your health. On its own it tells you very little, so it's most informative when reviewed alongside related markers.
It's measured from a standard blood draw at Quest or LabCorp. Prolactin is one of the markers included in the OPTML Apex Panel, where your results are read across systems and reviewed by a U.S.-licensed physician.
Reference ranges vary by laboratory, and a single value rarely tells the whole story. Review your result with a physician in the context of your other markers, symptoms, and history.
Prolactin is one signal among many. Answer a few quick questions and we’ll point you to the panel that fits.
Related symptoms
A symptom is a signal, not a diagnosis. These guides explain what the evidence shows and the blood markers, including this one, that help find the cause.
Measured in
A complete look at your heart, hormones, metabolism, inflammation, and longevity systems — drawn at Quest or LabCorp, reviewed by a U.S.-licensed physician.
Find the right panel →This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Lab results alone are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any condition and do not replace the advice of a healthcare provider. OPTML does not offer medical advice, a diagnosis, medical treatment, or any form of medical opinion.
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