Prolactin test at home in Dubai

Prolactin. A hormone made by the pituitary gland at the base of the brain. It drives milk production after birth and, when raised, can quieten the hormones that run the menstrual cycle.

Outside pregnancy and breastfeeding, prolactin is normally kept low. When it rises, it can damp down the signals from the brain to the ovaries. That is why a raised level is often linked with irregular or missed periods, difficulty conceiving, lower libido and, sometimes, a milky discharge from the nipples. Checking prolactin alongside thyroid and the rest of the Hormone Profile helps make sense of cycle changes.

Prolactin is also one of the most easily disturbed hormones in the blood. Stress, a poor night's sleep, a hard workout, nipple stimulation and even the draw itself can push it up for a while. It is naturally higher during sleep and in the first hours after waking. A single high reading is therefore often repeated before anyone reads too much into it.

• Irregular, light or missed periods
• Trying to conceive without success
• A milky discharge from the nipples when not breastfeeding
• Lower libido than usual
• Frequent headaches alongside cycle changes

• Have the draw at least two to three hours after waking, and sit quietly for a few minutes first if you can.
• Avoid hard exercise and breast or nipple stimulation in the 24 hours before.
• Follow the fasting instructions for the full screen, and tell your consultant about all medicines you take, as some can raise prolactin.

Reference ranges differ between labs, and a single result is a snapshot. Your consultant reads every value against your history and the rest of the screen, not in isolation.

This test is part of Baseline’s full blood screen: 122 parameters across ten systems from one draw, for AED 850, with results in 48 hours. It is not sold as a single test, because the result means more next to everything else.

• Nurse comes to you. A licensed phlebotomist visits your home or office, 7 days a week, anywhere in the UAE.
• Accredited lab. Samples are processed by a CAP-accredited laboratory (College of American Pathologists), also accredited to ISO 15189, against clinical reference ranges.
• Reviewed with you. Results land in your account in Baseline format, and your consultant walks you through them on video, never a PDF dumped in your inbox.

Your results arrive in the Baseline app, every marker against the lab’s own range, checked by your consultant before you see them. The values above are an example.

See everything the screen covers

Can stress raise prolactin?

Yes. Physical and emotional stress, including the stress of the draw itself, can raise prolactin for a short time. Poor sleep and hard exercise can do the same, which is why a high result is often rechecked.

What time of day should prolactin be tested?

Prolactin is higher during sleep and soon after waking. A draw two to three hours after you get up, after a calm start to the day, gives the most reliable reading.

Is prolactin tested in men too?

Prolactin is on the female profile of the screen. In men the Hormone Profile focuses on testosterone, alongside thyroid and DHEA-S.

Can I book a prolactin test on its own?

No. Prolactin is part of the Hormone Profile on the female profile of the full home screen, measured from the same single draw.

Related tests

• Hormone test
• Thyroid test
• DHEA-S test
• Cortisol test

This page is general information, not a diagnosis. If you feel unwell, or your symptoms are new or getting worse, speak to a doctor.