prolactin spikes

[Kitteh Engimeer]

Just out of curiosity, has anyone ever had spikes in prolactin around the first month of starting HRT? Mine jumped somewhere near ~20 µg/L, so I'm taking a low dose of estradiol for the time being. I'm not exactly worried since no negative symptoms have occurred and my doctor's keeping an eye on my levels (getting blood work done next week in fact). But I'm still a bit curious if anyone else had a similar experience.

Thankfully, I haven't started to spontaneously lactate.

[kathy bottoms]

Doing Estradiol Valerate right now, and was researching side effects from injections because I'm serious about IM.  Found information on a Dr Anne Lawrence page that said increased prolactin is a possible side effect of IM therapy.  So I went back and checked my lab tests, but haven't found prolactin listed seperately in any of my tests.  I'm gonna ask my endo about this.

[Padma]

My prolactin went way up when I started HRT, but stress may have been a contributory factor (acute PTSD onset). And when I got taken off anti-androgens for a couple of months (against my better judgement) it dropped down again. I'm getting some new results tomorrow now that I'm on anti-androgens again, it'll be interesting to see where the prolactin is at.

It never went above 700, and my doc said they don't worry until it goes over 1000 (I'll look up what units this is in later on and add that here, we use a different schema in the UK from the US for hormone etc. measurements).

[Naturally Blonde]

I used to get elevated prolactin levels all the time and still do sometimes. I get headaches and feeling very sick, it eventually drops when I stop HRT for a few days.

[Kitteh Engimeer]

I used to get elevated prolactin levels all the time and still do sometimes. I get headaches and feeling very sick, it eventually drops when I stop HRT for a few days.

I've been noticing some occasional nausea when taking my treatment myself, especially when not having eaten for a bit.

It never went above 700, and my doc said they don't worry until it goes over 1000 (I'll look up what units this is in later on and add that here, we use a different schema in the UK from the US for hormone etc. measurements).

I'm not what it was, but my doctor also gave me a pretty high number before it becomes an issue. I don't think I'm close to the cap, but not being a doctor, I don't know how rapidly the level can elevate and change that.

Thanks for the input!

[Padma]

Even quite high prolactin levels can have benign causes (such as stress - if you think stress is benign!), so it's not something to worry about unless it keeps on rising. A good idea to keep an eye on it.

My levels are quoted in the units mu/L (also known as mIU/L) - it's confusing, there appear to be 3 different schema for measuring prolactin! This table helps:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prolactin#Units_and_unit_conversions

And one of the things that can make prolactin levels rise is increased estrogen levels .

[Claire25]

Just out of curiosity, has anyone ever had spikes in prolactin around the first month of starting HRT? Mine jumped somewhere near ~20 µg/L, so I'm taking a low dose of estradiol for the time being. I'm not exactly worried since no negative symptoms have occurred and my doctor's keeping an eye on my levels (getting blood work done next week in fact). But I'm still a bit curious if anyone else had a similar experience.

Thankfully, I haven't started to spontaneously lactate.

Hey, I had the exact same thing happen. Lactation and all =(. My doctor dropped my E to a lower level for a bit to let my body get back into a "normal" range. She now makes me get a test about every 2-3 months to check on them and keep them in a good range.

[Julie Wilson]

My understanding is that nausea and elevated prolactin levels are caused by too much circulating estrogen.  One thing that can cause your body to retain and accumulate high circulating levels of estrogen is consuming grapefruit or grapefruit juice.  There is a chemical in the grapefruit that prevents the liver from filtering out the estrogen.

Elevated prolactin levels can also be caused by taking domperidone, also known as motilium.

In the past many transsexual women would lactate due to having dangerously high estrogen levels.

[Kitteh Engimeer]

Ack, I love grapefruit though. I suppose that's good to know.

[cynthialee]

I have never had my prolactin levels checked but they must have gone high the first year of my transition because I lactated for over a year.
It eventualy dried up. I miss it to be honest.
When I would feel very dysphoric I would go express until I was dry and it would trigger an oxytocin flood that was rather nice. Also nurseing ones spouse is very intimate and fullfiling.

[Padma]

I just got my latest bloods back, 6 weeks after my first triptorelin (decapeptyl) injection:

Testosterone - 0.72 nmol/L
Prolactin - 398 mU/L
Oestradiol - 1856 pmol/L

That last one's a bit of a shocker, it's jumped up from 286 (when I was off anti-androgens) and should be around 400. But I'm glad to see my P level is staying steady now.

[AbraCadabra]

I just got my latest bloods back, 6 weeks after my first triptorelin (decapeptyl) injection:

Testosterone - 0.72 nmol/L
Prolactin - 398 mU/L
Oestradiol - 1856 pmol/L

That last one's a bit of a shocker, it's jumped up from 286 (when I was off anti-androgens) and should be around 400. But I'm glad to see my P level is staying steady now.

Sweetie, that E level tells me you are preggers!!! 

Are we gonna have a kitchen tea soon now?

Axélle
PS: Prolactin is a hormone released by the pituitary gland. It can be stimulated by breast/nipple massage quite independent from Estrogen levels. A male with normal T levels can have high Prolactin!

Note: People with the following conditions may have high prolactin levels;

•Chest wall trauma or irritation
•Hypothalamic disease
•Hypothyroidism
•Kidney disease
•Pituitary tumour that makes prolactin (prolactinoma)
•Other pituitary tumours and diseases

[Padma]

Also stress conditions such as anxiety or PTSD can cause prolactin to rise.

[Padma]

Sweetie, that E level tells me you are preggers!!!

I've decided it's because I'm actually 5 women - we're going to start an acappella group .

[cynthialee]

add heart attack followed with heperin to the list that can spike prolactin

[Joann]

Ive considered this esp since prolatican is responsible for reversal of MS symptoms.
But sounds like from what im hearing prolactin isn't a good thing.

And what do you do with the milk?
Sell it online as a aphrodisiac?
Man cheeze ... EUwwwww...

[Padma]

Maybe that's what Manchego really is?

[Kitteh Engimeer]

It's only man cheese when you're a man 

I've always known that as a term for something disgusting and very unrelated to breast milk, too *shudders*

[Padma]

Meanwhile: wow, even when my prolactin was high, I never saw any lactation (and nobody warned me about it). That would have been entertaining!

[Padma]

It's only man cheese when you're a man 

I've always known that as a term for something disgusting and very unrelated to breast milk, too *shudders*

Yeah, this - on both counts (ick).