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Prolactin is a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland. It is responsible for the secretion of testosterone by stimulating the testicles. Very often there is an increased level of prolactin in men, and the complications are quite important for the functioning of the male body. How does prolactin affect the male body?
What is Prolactin?
Prolactin is a hormone produced by both women and men. In men, it stimulates the testes to secrete testosterone, and is also responsible for the work of the immune system, determines the body’s resistance to stress and is responsible for sexual functions in men.
According to doctors, the normal concentration of PRL is lower than 20 ng / ml in women and lower than 15 ng / ml in men. This level may fluctuate due to e.g. stress or after a meal. If male prolactin is too low, problems with erection and ejaculation may develop. With low prolactin, the quality of sperm is also worse and the level of androgens decreases. In the case of excessively high levels of prolactin in men (hyperprolactinemia), it may negatively affect libido and lead to the development of various other disorders, such as gynecomastia or osteoporosis.
High prolactin in men – what are the causes?
Too high levels of prolactin in men may be the result of prolonged stress or physical trauma, or the use of drugs that increase the hormone, hypothyroidism, or a tumor of the pituitary gland, kidney or liver failure. Hyperprolactinemia is caused by the use of drugs that reduce dopamine synthesis. These drugs increase metabolism and block dopamine synthesis. Another cause of increased prolactin in men is hypothyroidism, during the course of this disease, more THR and prolactin are secreted. The next cause is damage to the hypothalamus, i.e. hemorrhage, trauma, cancer, surgery in the hypothalamus, and the hypothalamus is responsible for the proper secretion of top hormones that normalize the secretion of prolactin. The causes of increased prolactin in men can also include the presence of a prolactin tumor, i.e. a benign pituitary tumor. Most often it is a lesion not exceeding 1 cm in diameter.
Increased prolactin in men – symptoms
The most common symptoms accompanying the increased amount of prolactin in men include:
- Headache;
- depressed mood;
- depressive states,
- constant fatigue,
- blurred vision;
- weight loss and an increase in the amount of fat,
- testicular hypotrophy;
- infertility related to a reduced number of sperm in semen and impotence disorders;
- erection problems;
- decrease in libido;
- fertility disorders (oligospermia, decreased sperm motility, decrease in ejaculate volume).
Increased prolactin in men – treatment
Treatment of too high prolactin in men depends on the cause of its development. If hyperprolactinaemia occurs due to medications, they should be discontinued. In the remaining cases of functional hyperprolactinaemia, the treatment of choice is the use of drugs that are dopamine agonists. If the condition is caused by a tumor in the brain, you will need to undergo surgery. On the other hand, if the increased level of prolactin in men is associated with hypothyroidism and renal or hepatic insufficiency, it requires causal treatment, including drugs.