Key Takeaways
- Prolactin is a pituitary hormone best known for milk production. High levels can disrupt periods, fertility and libido.
- Test in the morning, after waking and resting; stress, poor sleep, exercise and breast stimulation can raise the result.
- Common causes of high prolactin include pregnancy, medicines, hypothyroidism and prolactinoma.
- Macroprolactin, an inactive form, explains a significant share of high results and should be checked before treatment.
- At DCDC, a prolactin test is AED 149, with results typically within 24 to 48 hours.
A prolactin test is often ordered when periods become irregular or stop, when there is unexpected milky nipple discharge, during fertility investigations, or in men with low libido or erectile problems. Many raised results turn out to have a simple explanation, such as stress at the time of the blood draw or a medicine. This guide explains how to prepare, what prolactin levels mean, the causes of high prolactin and when further tests are needed. Book through DCDC's prolactin test service.
What does prolactin do?
Prolactin is made by the pituitary gland. Its main role is to stimulate breast milk production after birth. The brain normally keeps prolactin low by releasing dopamine. When prolactin is too high outside pregnancy and breastfeeding (hyperprolactinaemia), it suppresses the hormones that drive ovulation and testosterone production.
Symptoms that lead to a prolactin test
- Women: irregular or absent periods, difficulty conceiving, milky nipple discharge (galactorrhoea), vaginal dryness, low libido
- Men: low libido, erectile dysfunction, reduced facial or body hair, breast enlargement, infertility
- Either sex: headaches or changes in peripheral vision, which can occur with a larger pituitary tumour, and low bone density over time
How to prepare for a prolactin test
Prolactin rises with stress and follows a daily rhythm, so preparation affects accuracy:
- Book a morning appointment, ideally 2 to 3 hours after waking
- Avoid strenuous exercise, sexual activity and breast or nipple stimulation the day before
- Rest for a few minutes before the sample is taken
- Tell the team about all medicines and supplements, and whether you could be pregnant or are breastfeeding
Fasting is not usually required for prolactin alone. If the first result is mildly raised, many clinicians repeat it with a relaxed, carefully timed sample before investigating further.
Prolactin normal range
Reference ranges vary by laboratory and units (ng/mL or mIU/L; roughly 1 ng/mL = 21 mIU/L). As a general guide:
| Group | Approximate normal range |
|---|---|
| Non-pregnant women | Below about 25 ng/mL (about 500 mIU/L) |
| Men | Below about 15 to 20 ng/mL (about 300 to 400 mIU/L) |
| Pregnancy | Rises progressively, often 10 times or more |
| Breastfeeding | Raised, especially soon after feeds |
Use the reference range printed on your own laboratory report.
Causes of high prolactin
| Cause | Notes |
|---|---|
| Pregnancy and breastfeeding | Normal physiological rise; a pregnancy test is often done first |
| Stress, pain, poor sleep, exercise | Usually mild rises; a repeat test often normalises |
| Medicines | Some antipsychotics, metoclopramide, domperidone, some antidepressants, opioids, oestrogen |
| Underactive thyroid | Primary hypothyroidism can raise prolactin; TSH is usually checked |
| Prolactinoma | A benign pituitary tumour; higher levels often suggest a larger tumour |
| Other pituitary or hypothalamic problems | Can reduce dopamine control (the "stalk effect"), usually with moderate rises |
| Kidney or liver disease | Reduced clearance of prolactin |
| Macroprolactin | An inactive large form of prolactin that raises the measured level without symptoms |
A doctor looks for the most likely cause based on the level, symptoms and history.
Macroprolactin: why some high results need no treatment
Macroprolactin is prolactin bound to an antibody. It is biologically inactive but is still detected by many assays, so it can cause a high result in someone with no symptoms. The Endocrine Society recommends checking for macroprolactin when prolactin is raised without typical symptoms. DCDC's laboratory screens for macroprolactin on raised results, which can prevent unnecessary scans and treatment.
What happens if prolactin is high?
- A repeat sample taken under relaxed conditions if the rise is mild
- Checks for pregnancy, thyroid function and kidney function, and a review of medicines
- Macroprolactin screening if symptoms do not fit
- A pituitary MRI if the level remains raised without another explanation
- Specialist review: prolactinomas usually respond well to dopamine agonist medication such as cabergoline
Never stop a prescribed medicine, such as an antipsychotic, because of a prolactin result without speaking to the prescribing doctor.
Prolactin test price in Dubai
| Test at DCDC | Price (AED) |
|---|---|
| Prolactin | 149 |
| TSH | 149 |
| Beta-hCG (pregnancy) | 149 |
| FSH / LH | 149 each |
| Female hormone panel | 499 |
| Home sample collection (added per visit) | 199 |
Prices from DCDC's current laboratory and package rates.
Prolactin is often tested with FSH, LH and estradiol when periods are irregular. See our FSH and LH test guide for timing, and the hormone test guide for panels.
What to Expect at DCDC
- Morning booking to give the most reliable result; tell us if you work night shifts.
- Rest before the draw: our phlebotomy team allows you to sit quietly first.
- Results within 24 to 48 hours, with macroprolactin assessment on raised results.
- Clinical interpretation by our internal medicine, endocrine or gynaecology teams, including whether imaging is needed.
Book a prolactin test
Prolactin AED 149, ideally as a morning sample. Ask about combining it with thyroid or fertility hormones.
Call +971 54 219 5008 or WhatsApp 971509703884. Building 64, Block A, Al Razi Medical Complex, Dubai Healthcare City. Open Saturday to Thursday 8AM-10PM, Friday 9AM-9PM.
Related Services at DCDC
Expert care and advanced diagnostics at Dubai Healthcare City
Frequently Asked Questions
Prepare well, then investigate calmly
Many high prolactin results come from the conditions of the test itself. A relaxed morning sample, a list of your medicines and a pregnancy and thyroid check resolve most cases.
If prolactin stays high, a structured work-up, including macroprolactin screening and, when needed, an MRI, gives a clear answer. Most causes are very treatable.
Sources & References
This article references the following sources:
- Melmed S, et al. Diagnosis and Treatment of Hyperprolactinemia: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011
- MedlinePlus - Prolactin Levels
- NCBI StatPearls - Hyperprolactinemia
- Society for Endocrinology - Hyperprolactinaemia patient information
- Pituitary Foundation - Prolactinoma
This information is educational and does not replace individual medical advice. See our editorial policy for more information.
Written by
DCDC Editorial Team
Patient education
Patient information from Doctors Clinic Diagnostic Center in Dubai Healthcare City, based on the medical references listed with this article. This guide supports discussion with your clinician and does not provide an individual diagnosis.
Related patient guides
Hormone Test Dubai: Types, Cost & Guide
FSH & LH Test Dubai: Day 3 Levels, Ratio & Price
PCOS Treatment & Diagnosis Dubai
More in Women's Health
Double Marker Test Dubai: Timing, Results & Price (2026)
Read More
Emsella Side Effects & Safety Dubai (2026)
Read MoreFSH & LH Test Dubai: Day 3 Levels, Ratio & Price
Read More
NIPT Test Dubai: Cost, Accuracy & Timing (2026)
Read More
NIPT Results: High-Risk vs Low-Risk Explained (2026)
Read MoreNT Scan Dubai: Cost, Timing & Results (2026)
Read More© 2026 Doctors Clinic Diagnostic Center (DCDC), Dubai Healthcare City. Originally published at https://doctorsclinicdubai.ae/blog/prolactin-test-dubai. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.