Prolactin

Lactogenic Hormone

What Affects the Test

Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:

• Having a lot of emotional stress or doing strenuous exercise before the test.
• Trouble sleeping. Prolactin levels are highest during sleep so if you do not sleep well, your levels may be lower than normal.
• Stimulating your nipples.
• Taking certain medicines, such as birth control pills, high blood pressure medicines, tricyclic antidepressants, or medicines for mental illness, such as phenothiazines.
• Using cocaine.
• Having a test with radioactive tracer a week before the prolactin test.

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Author:	Carrie Henley Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: September 26, 2006
Medical Review:	Renée M. Crichlow, MD - Family Medicine Tom Bailey, MD - Family Medicine Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology
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