How to measure and interpret serum prolactin

Prolactin levels are important to mental health professionals for several reasons:

1. Some psychiatric medications can increase prolactin levels (e.g., antipsychotics)

2. Elevated prolactin levels can be a cause of sexual dysfunction

3. Elevated prolactin levels may be a clue that the person’s headaches and visual problems are due to a pituitary tumor

How to correctly measure serum prolactin

The following FOUR instructions need to be given to patients to make sure that we don’t get a false estimate of serum prolactin. These are particularly important if we are repeating a serum prolactin level after the first test showed a mild elevation.