Prolactin

When people hear ‘prolactin’ they immediately think, ‘wait, isn’t that the milk-production hormone?’ It is, but it actually does much more than that; it’s involved in more than 300 physiological processes - Liad Hollender

Prolactin
Prolactin

image by: UNICEF

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Become a prolactin pro: learn all about the milk hormone

Prolactin (also known as PRL) isn't a word you'd necessarily come across in casual conversation, but it's actually super important when you're talking and thinking about fertility. If you've never heard of prolactin, have no fear!...

We say prolactin, you say... what?

Prolactin is the ‘milk hormone,’ responsible for breast milk production, also known as lactation. (Fun fact: "lact" means "milk," it's from the Latin, lactare - "to suckle." Prolactin literally promotes the making of milk.) But prolactin is no one trick pony - besides lactation, there are actually more than 300 functions that prolactin impacts, including reproductive, metabolic, regulation of…

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Resources

 Become a prolactin pro: learn all about the milk hormone

Prolactin (also known as PRL) isn't a word you'd necessarily come across in casual conversation, but it's actually super important when you're talking and thinking about fertility. If you've never heard of prolactin, have no fear!

Hormone Health Network

Prolactin is a hormone that affects many different hormones in the body. Present in both men and women, it rarely causes problems, but those who are serious about their health should understand what it is and how it impacts the body’s overall health and well-being.

Progesterone Therapy

Prolactin is usually regarded as the hormone of lactogenesis i.e. it causes milk to be produced. But in excess it reduces libido, causes hypogonadism, galactorrhoea and has inflammatory properties too.

The Pituitary Foundation

The pituitary gland produces a number of hormones, including: prolactin, ACTH, TSH and GH, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Prolactin is sometimes known as the ‘milk hormone’ because it stimulates milk production after childbirth, but it is also produced in men, although in smaller amounts.

StatPearls

Prolactin is a polypeptide hormone that is responsible for lactation, breast development, and hundreds of other actions needed to maintain homeostasis. The chemical structures prolactin is similar to the structure of growth hormone and placental lactogen hormone.

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