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Prolactin
Abbreviation: PRL
Panel: Hormone Tests · All hormones tests
Typical adult reference range
| Conventional units | Male 4–15; Female 4–23 ng/mL |
| SI units | Male 86–324; Female 86–496 mIU/L |
Ranges vary between laboratories and methods — compare your result with the range printed on your own report.
What a high or low result can mean
High prolactin: high values can be seen in prolactinoma, pregnancy, hypothyroidism, and with some medications.
Low prolactin: low values are rarely clinically significant and may occur with pituitary disorders.
These are associations, not a diagnosis: the same result can have several causes, and your clinician interprets it with the rest of your results and history.
Good to know
Stress, sleep, and nipple stimulation can transiently raise levels.
Related tests — Hormone Tests
Please note: Reference ranges vary between laboratories, and between the methods and instruments they use — the range printed on your own report is the one your result should be compared with. A result outside the range is not by itself a diagnosis, and a result inside it does not rule out illness. These pages are an educational summary, not medical advice: always discuss your results with the clinician who ordered them, who can interpret them in the context of your health and history.