Why is prolactin test done?

A doctor does this test to check your prolactin level. Prolactin is a hormone from your brain. It helps women make milk for a baby.

If the level is too high, it can cause problems. For women, your period might stop. Or you get milk from your nipples when you are not pregnant. It can also make it hard to get pregnant. For men, high levels can mean low sex drive or trouble with erections.

Sometimes a small, not-cancer tumor in the brain makes the level high. This test helps the doctor find out what is wrong.