PROLACTIN TEST

A prolactin (PRL) test measures the level of prolactin in a sample of your blood. Prolactin is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland, a small gland at the base of the brain. Hormones are chemical messengers in your bloodstream that control the actions of certain cells or organs. Prolactin affects many body processes. But its main role is to signal breast tissue to grow during pregnancy and make milk for breastfeeding after birth. So, prolactin levels in pregnant women and new mothers are normally high. In nonpregnant women and men, prolactin levels are normally low.