The Anafit E-Zine Newsletter Ed1.vol 7
Learning more about Prolactin
By Mac Rophage
“Why Prolactin Can Ruin Your Day”
Most people have never heard of the peptide hormone, Prolactin. The name seems innocent enough, but this
little neuroendocrine peptide can give you a whole of host of problems that you never thought possible.
Prolactin’s primary job in the body is to aid in breast development, and, after pregnancy, Prolactin produces
breast milk. Now if you are a man reading this article, you may be asking yourself, “Why would I have Prolactin
problems?” Well, unfortunately, men and women are basically the same human template, and Prolactin
production is part of life for both genders. Basically, 3 hormones play roles in both male and female bodies:
Testosterone, Progesterone and Estrogen. It’s the varying amounts of these hormones, as well as the ratio they
are produced in that really affects a great deal of the physiological and endrocrinological (hormonal) differences
between men and women.
So what effect does Prolactin, the peptide hormone, have on these three primary hormones in the human body?
Prolactin production is adjusted in the body by all three of these hormones, however, Estrogen is the primary
mastermind behind Prolactin production. Prolactin is basically a female hormone, but it does serve a purpose in
men, though its purpose may not be considered beneficial by most men. For example, primary surges in
Prolactin occurs after orgasm in males to let the male body know its “done”. In fact, the surge in Prolactin
insures this feeling by immediately reducing sexual desire as well as erectile response. Basically, Prolactin acts
as an “off” switch -- not exactly a beneficial function in most men’s minds, though surely there are women that
are quite thankful for this biological hiatus. That being said, high Prolactin levels are a common cause of
impotence and loss of sexual desire in both men and women.
Sex is just one area where Prolactin may have negative effects on the body and mind. In addition to this,
Prolactin also demands increases in food intake -- this is why the urge to raid the fridge after coitus is not
uncommon. Studies in animals indicate that high Prolactin can increase food intake by as much as 20%. Studies
with Prolactin suppressors in humans have shown significant decreases in food intake and fat loss, even where
Prolactin levels are not considered to be “elevated”.
For men, Prolactin presents an additional issue. It can cause and aggravate 'gynecomastia, which is the clinical
term for female breast development in men. Prolactin’s effects on 'gynecomastia are worse when there is
existing breast tissue from puberty and/or when there is high level of Estrogen present already. Also, as
mentioned before, when high levels of Estrogen are present in this case, production of Prolactin in the body is
further encouraged, thus compounding problems at hand and making the ordeal cyclic.