$7.00
Priced per marker, with baseline labs included. You’ll see your total before you pay.
Hormones & reproductive
Prolactin test
Pituitary hormone that drives lactation; elevations can cause cycle irregularity and infertility.
At a glance
In about 5 days
Most results are ready in about 5 days. Some specialty markers can take up to 21 days.
Best at a set time of day or cycle day
Contact us before your draw if you’re not sure.
Walk in at Quest
Your lab order arrives by email. Most Quest locations take walk-ins, so bring it with a photo ID.
What it measures
Prolactin is the hormone that tells your body to make breast milk. It comes from your pituitary gland, a small gland at the base of your brain.
Why it matters for women
Prolactin can naturally rise in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Outside those times, a high level can make periods irregular or stop them, cause milky discharge from the nipples, and make it harder to get pregnant. An underactive thyroid, some medicines and a small noncancerous growth on the pituitary can raise it.
You might check it if…
- your periods are irregular or have stopped
- you notice milky nipple discharge and you’re not breastfeeding
- you’re having trouble getting pregnant
What your result may mean
High Prolactin: what it may mean
High prolactin (hyperprolactinemia) may suggest a noncancerous pituitary tumor (prolactinoma), an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) or dopamine-blocking medicines, such as some used for mental health or nausea. It can rise naturally in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Stress, nipple stimulation, hard exercise or poor sleep before a blood draw can bump it up. You may notice irregular or missed periods, milky nipple discharge or trouble getting pregnant, and a large growth can cause headaches or vision changes. A clinician may repeat the test and check your thyroid.
Low Prolactin: what it may mean
Low prolactin may not be a concern on its own, and it can rarely matter outside of pituitary failure. Heavy blood loss during childbirth can damage the pituitary (Sheehan syndrome), and trouble making breast milk can be an early clue. Certain medicines that act like dopamine can lower prolactin too. A low level may cause no symptoms, though pituitary problems can bring missed periods, tiredness or feeling cold. If other pituitary hormones are in question, a clinician may test those as well.
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These notes provide context and do not diagnose a condition. Not yet available in NY, NJ, RI, HI, ND, SD or WV.