Prolactin Test (PRL Test)

Prolactin test (PRL test) ek blood test hai jo body mein prolactin hormone ki matra check karta hai. Prolactin pituitary gland se banta hai aur milk production ke liye responsible hai. Iska test hormonal problems, infertility, ya pituitary tumour ke diagnosis mein help karta hai.

Jab periods irregular hon, bina pregnancy doodh aaye, conceive karne mein problem ho, mard ko libido ya erection mein takleef ho, ya doctor ne infertility workup ke liye kaha ho — tab ye test karvana chahiye. Kabhi kabhi unexplained headaches mein bhi ye test hota hai.

Mard mein 4.0–15.2 ng/mL aur non-pregnant mahila mein 4.79–23.3 ng/mL normal maana jaata hai (Metropolis ECLIA method). Pregnancy mein ye naturally bahut zyada badhta hai — 1st trimester mein 9.95–101 ng/mL tak bhi normal ho sakta hai. Aapki lab ki apni reference range hoti hai — report ke saath compare karein.

Nahi. Prolactin test ke liye strict fasting zaroori nahi hai. Sirf zyada strenuous exercise, nipple stimulation, aur high-dose biotin supplements test se pehle avoid karein. Subah uthne ke 2-3 ghante baad test karvana best hota hai.

Subah 8 baje se 10 baje ke beech — yaani uthne ke 2-3 ghante baad — ye sabse accurate time hota hai. Prolactin subah uthne ke baad ghatne lagta hai, isliye ye timing sahi hai.

Prolactin high ka possible kaaran hai: prolactinoma (pituitary tumour), PCOD, hypothyroidism, kuch medicines (antidepressants, antipsychotics), stress, ya exercise. Ek baar high report se ghabrao mat — doctor repeat test aur further evaluation karenge.

Mahila mein: irregular ya band periods, bina pregnancy doodh aana (galactorrhea), pregnancy mein dikkat, libido mein kami. Mard mein: erectile dysfunction, libido mein kami, kabhi kabhi chest ka thoda badhna. Dono mein: headaches, aankhon ki problem.

Low prolactin rare hai. Iska possible kaaran pituitary gland ki kami (hypopituitarism) ya Sheehan's syndrome (delivery mein excess blood loss) ho sakta hai. Naye maa mein prolactin low ho toh doodh kum aa sakta hai. Doctor se evaluate karwayein.

Nahi. Prolactin test pregnancy test nahi hai. Pregnancy mein prolactin naturally badhta hai, lekin ye confirm karne ke liye beta-hCG test (urine ya blood pregnancy test) hota hai — prolactin nahi.

Agar treatment chal rahi hai toh doctor 4-6 hafte mein repeat karvayenge. Normal hai aur koi symptoms nahi hain toh routine mein dobara test ki zarurat nahi. Symptoms wapas aayein tab doctor se milein.

Usually red top (serum) ya gold top tube use hoti hai. Sample collection centre pe technician sahi tube use karta hai — aapko is baare mein kuch karna nahi hota.

Prolactin test sirf prolactin hormone check karta hai — pituitary aur reproductive health ke liye. TSH thyroid function check karta hai. Lekin hypothyroidism prolactin badha sakta hai, isliye aksar dono saath mein likhte hain.

Haan, bilkul. Mard mein erectile dysfunction, libido ki kami, ya infertility workup mein prolactin test common hai. Mard mein high prolactin testosterone production ko affect karta hai.

Zyada tar labs mein same day ya 4–12 ghante mein report aa jaati hai. Kuch labs next day dete hain. Dr Lal PathLabs, Metropolis, Aster Labs — in sab ki online reports bhi milti hain registered number pe.

Bilkul nahi. Ye sirf ek blood test hai — normal CBC ya sugar test jaisa hi. Ek chhoti needle se vein se 2-3 mL blood liya jata hai — 2-3 second ka kaam.

PCOD mein hormonal imbalance ki wajah se prolactin badha hua mil sakta hai. PCOD diagnosis ke doran doctor prolactin bhi check karta hai — kyunki high prolactin khud bhi PCOD jaisi symptoms de sakta hai (irregular periods, infertility). Isliye dono ko differentiate karna zaroori hai.

Is test mein 0, 20, aur 40 minute ke interval pe 3 blood samples liye jaate hain. Ye tab kiya jaata hai jab doctor single reading pe sure nahi hota — prolactin ka level naturally fluctuate karta hai toh pooled sample zyada accurate picture deta hai.

Haan — infertility aur menstrual irregularity ke workup mein TSH aur prolactin ek saath test karna common practice hai. Hypothyroidism aur high prolactin ka close connection hota hai, isliye dono ek saath check karte hain.

Report mein "Reference Range" diya hota hai — aapki value us range ke andar hai ya bahar, woh dekhein. Agar value high hai toh "H" ya "High" likha hoga. Lekin report khud se interpret karne ki jagah doctor ko dikhayein — kyunki context, symptoms, aur clinical history bhi zaroori hoti hai.

1 ng/mL = 21.2 mIU/L (approx). Agar aapki report mIU/L mein hai: normal male range ~85–325 mIU/L aur normal female (non-preg) ~100–494 mIU/L. Aapki lab ki reference range hi sabse accurate guide hai.