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:	Sandy Jocoy, RN	Last Updated: July 15, 2008
Medical Review:	Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine Deborah A. Penava, BA, MD, FRCSC, MPH - Obstetrics and Gynecology
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