Prolactin analysis: what day of the cycle to take, the indicators of the norm

The complex human body depends on the coordinated work of all organs and systems. Failure in the functionality of any one body entails a huge number of problems. For example, with certain diseases, hormone analysis is needed. And because often you can hear a question from women: "And prolactin on what day of the cycle to take?".

Prolactin hormone

The hormonal( endocrine) system of a person is responsible for all processes occurring during life. The main organ of this complex organization is the pituitary gland. It is here that prolactin is produced. What is it with women? It is a hormone necessary for the growth of the female breast and lactation.

Interestingly the fact that despite the seemingly absolutely feminine purpose, prolactin is produced by the pituitary gland of men. However, all the functions of this component of the group of lactin-like proteins have not yet been fully studied. So this hormone is produced in a certain amount throughout the life of a person.

Hormonal rhythms

All people heard about biorhythms. Many may even feel certain changes in the body based on such rhythm. That's the production of the hormone prolactin is subject to such fluctuations. They depend on a variety of reasons that can both increase and decrease the production of this hormone.

For women, a typical increase in prolactin production occurs during pregnancy and lactation of the newborn. But for both women and men, its production can significantly increase due to depression, stress, psychosis, anxiety, severe pain. Affect the increase in the production of prolactin and large doses of alcohol, drugs, some antidepressants, antipsychotics, tranquilizers, normotimics.

Most contraceptives, estrogen and some of the remedies that help fight vomiting also provoke the production of prolactin in larger quantities. But the intake of glucocorticoids, antagonists and hormones of the thyroid gland reduces the production of this hormone. That is why in certain situations, an analysis of prolactin is necessary. Where to hand over and how, tells the attending physician, appointing such a survey.

Pregnancy

The main purpose of prolactin is the work of the mammary glands and the activity of the apparatus of reproduction of the human body. With the onset of sexual development, its production increases, reflecting on the development of the breast, ducts, the formation of a mammary gland capable of producing milk for feeding a newborn baby.

Scientists have established that the formation of prolactin by itself does not affect milk production in any way, but this hormone is responsible for its formation, the amount in the mammary glands of the mother. The entire process of procreation is built on the hormones and cyclicity of certain processes in the body of a woman. That is why conducting some studies depends on menstruation."Analyzing for prolactin on what day of the cycle to take?"- this question is of interest to those women who are prescribed a similar examination by a doctor.

Lactation

Feeding a baby with breast milk is the main opportunity to strengthen the immunity of a newborn baby. The first months of life this is how he gets all the necessary nutrients. And the production of colostrum and milk is a complex process in which many reactions are associated. A considerable role here is played by prolactin.

This hormone, although it has no effect on the very process of milk extraction from the mammary glands of a woman, but it works on the production of colostrum, its quantity, maturation and transformation into milk. According to some reports, it is because of the presence of prolactin in a significant amount during lactation that a woman can not become pregnant - the hormone acts as a contraceptive.

Male prolactin?

Prolactin hormone is necessary not only for women in order to be able to breastfeed. It is produced in men. Scientists have found that prolactin plays a role in the work of the immune system, in regulating the water-electrolyte balance of the human body. It is an important element of the entire endocrine system.

But for the qualitative work of prolactin should be produced in a certain amount. So, the increased level of prolactin in men causes problems in sexual life - the feeling of libido decreases, the quality of sperm decreases, in which the quantity of spermatozoa decreases. Therefore, men may also be interested in the question: "Why should I give prolactin?"

Why do I need an analysis?

Some states of the human body, diseases in their basis have a violation of the hormonal balance. And the analysis on hormones in certain situations will help to establish the cause of malaise, some violations, and therefore, to choose the right treatment. So, to determine the level of the hormone prolactin, you need to donate blood to determine the level of its content. The most common reasons for the appointment of such a survey are:

• abnormal discharge from the chest, both in non-pregnant and non-immune women, and in men;
• pain in the mammary glands;
• chronic inflammation of the genital area;
• infertility;
• disorders of the menstrual cycle;
• obesity;
• impotence;
• decreased libido;
• menopausal disorders in severe form.

Prolactin analysis is also part of a comprehensive hormonal study. For women, when assigning such an analysis, the question arises: "Prolactin on what day of the cycle to take?".The answer to it will be given by the doctor who prescribes the examination.

Preparing for the delivery of analysis for prolactin

How to properly pass the test for prolactin, think about everything to whom such a survey is appointed. In preparation, there is nothing unfulfillable. For women who are not pregnant, blood donation to prolactin is necessary on the 5th-8th day of the cycle. There are also several general recommendations that are not gender-dependent:

• exclude sex one day before the analysis;
• exclude visiting saunas and steam rooms a day before donating blood to the hormone prolactin;
• exclude increased physical activity the day before the analysis;
• is not recommended to eat fatty foods and alcohol for the day before the test;
• one hour prior to blood sampling do not smoke;
• is in a calm emotional state;
• to donate blood for prolactin is necessary in the morning, no later than 3 hours after waking up;
• analysis is given on an empty stomach, you can drink only water.

Dependence on the monthly cycle

Women who do not expect the baby to be born in the next 9 months, with the appointment of an analysis, are always interested in what day of the menstrual cycle they are giving prolactin. It is best to take this examination between the 5th and 8th day of the menstrual cycle. Some clinicians believe that the level of prolactin depends little on the rhythm of menstruation and can be easily recalculated depending on the day of menstruation. But it's better to come to the analysis in the first days of the cycle to get the most accurate results.

Normal indicators

The endocrine system is complex and multifunctional, it controls all the processes occurring in the human body, and failures in its work lead to many health problems. The same applies to a specific hormone, such as prolactin. The norm in women by age and in men is determined by numerous studies. But one should always take into account the fact that its level can fluctuate even depending on the mood and emotional state of the subject. In more detail tell about the level of a hormone, such as prolactin, the table below.

age	male, mU / mL	female, mJ / mL
0-1 month	78-1705	63-1995
1-12 month	less than 607	less than 628
over 1 year of age	73-407	109-557

It is characteristic that in newborn children the level of prolactin in the blood is initially high. This is due to the presence in the womb of the mother, whose body is preparing for childbirth and the period of lactation. Within a month or two, this figure is significantly reduced. The gradation in the level of hormone for patients over 1 year is associated with many factors, including the psychoemotional attitude toward the procedure for blood sampling. The answer to the question: "The analysis on prolactin where to hand over?"simple - in a medical institution that accepts such tests.

If the figure is higher than the norm

The level of prolactin in the blood of a person in the approximate rate has a wide enough spread, as production is intensified for many everyday reasons, even an evening plentiful supper or a cigarette smoked in the morning will affect the performance. But with certain health problems, the level of prolactin will be high even if all the requirements for preparing for the analysis are met. Exceeding the norm of prolactin in the human blood makes it possible to assume the following:

• some hypothalamic diseases that cause active hormone production;
• pituitary disease, responsible for the production of prolactin;
• disorder in the functioning of the adrenal cortex;
• renal failure;
• diseases of the female genital area, for example, polycystic ovaries;
• decreased thyroid function;
• hypoglycemia;
• anorexia nervosa;
• use of certain medicines.

Also, an increase in the level of prolactin in the blood is characteristic of pregnancy.

If the indicator is below the norm

For women, the question is: "Prolactin on what day of the cycle to take?".The analysis of blood on the 5th-8th day of the menstrual cycle will give the most accurate results of such a survey. Although the level of prolactin in the blood may fluctuate for many reasons, its significant decrease indicates possible health problems for both women and men, such as:

• pituitary tuberculosis;
• Shihan syndrome( pituitary apoplexy);
• neoplasms of the brain, including malignant ones;
• taking certain medications;
• craniocerebral trauma;
• Radiation Therapy.

The decrease in the level of prolactin in the blood of a pregnant woman speaks of a delayed pregnancy and the need to take certain measures for the birth of a child.

Pathology and prolactin

The level of the hormone prolactin in humans has one peculiarity - it has a very wide range in terms considered to be the norm, and the level change occurs for many reasons, quite common - overeating, smoking, stressful situation, bad sleep.

Control of prolactin in the blood is necessary for medical indicators, because a stable change in the amount of this component of the endocrine system can cause disruption in the work of the whole organism, for example, in women, cause infertility. In men, the change in the level of prolactin in pathological boundaries is extremely rare. Increased or decreased levels of prolactin require re-examination after 10-14 days to confirm the result. Then a comprehensive examination is conducted to determine the cause of the violation of the level of the hormone in the blood.

Treatment for reducing prolactin levels in men and women

One of the important hormones is prolactin. What is it with women? This substance is produced by the endocrine system, which contributes to the development of the mammary glands, the production of milk for the feeding of the child. The role of prolactin has not been sufficiently studied, but scientists have found that it exerts a tremendous influence on all organs and systems of the human body. Therefore, violations of its production cause many health problems.

The change in the level of prolactin in the blood of a man is rare. But for women such a pathology is a frequent phenomenon. Treatment of hyperprolactinemia is carried out in accordance with the cause that caused it. The attending physician after diagnosis can prescribe a hormonal adjustment, treatment of the tumor with the help of radiotherapy, surgical intervention.

All methods of treatment should correspond to the condition of the patient, take into account both the disease itself and concomitant diseases, anamnesis, possible contraindications to the chosen method of problem elimination.

For each person, the problems of the endocrine system are a frequent cause of the onset of diseases and pathological conditions. Therefore, regular medical examination, the delivery of the necessary tests will help to maintain health, improve the condition. To determine the causes of ailments, the often prescribed analysis is prolactin. On what day of the cycle to take it - an important issue for women.

Although many doctors believe that it is here that a particular day of menstruation does not play any role, it is still best for the correct results to come to the survey on the 5th-8th day of the cycle. If the results do not correspond to normal parameters, a second examination is carried out after two weeks. Then the doctor decides on further examination to determine the cause of prolactin level disorders.