low testosterone cause high prolactin ?? help please

**SilverTest** · 12-16-2010, 10:48 AM

hey guys,

Simple question, does having low testosterone for long periods eventually cause a high prolactin level ???

**Bonaparte** · 12-16-2010, 10:56 AM

Not directly, though high estrogen can contribute to prolactin levels.
Though when your test is low, estrogen, prolactin, and progesterone can get out of control (proportionately), since androgens are needed to antagonize the other hormones. Swifto would be the best guy to ask about this.

**Swifto** · 12-16-2010, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by Bonaparte

Not directly, though high estrogen can contribute to prolactin levels.
Though when your test is low, estrogen, prolactin, and progesterone can get out of control (proportionately), since androgens are needed to antagonize the other hormones. Swifto would be the best guy to ask about this.

No, not to my knowledge.

Only if the user has a prolactinoma, that may lead to hypogonadism. But even that can be corrected with a dopamine agonist and SERM(s).

Recovery of persistent hypogonadism by clomiphene in males with prolactinomas under dopamine agonist treatment

http://www.eje-online.org/cgi/content/full/161/1/163

**Swifto** · 12-16-2010, 11:05 AM

In a normal setting prolactin is regulated by the ER, or anything that interacts with it. So if endogneous T is low, I see no reason why PRL is elevated or could be increased, bar a prolactinoma. Thyroid function (T3) could throw it also.

**Swifto** · 12-16-2010, 11:13 AM

In one of the largest studies on erectile dycfunction (ED) compiling data from "3,547 men with erectile dysfunction", these are the results.

To quote, "Of those patients evaluated 18.7% had low testosterone , 4.6% had increased prolactin, 14.6% had abnormal luteinizing hormone, 4.0% had increased thyroid-stimulating hormone, 8.3% had increased prostate specific antigen, 26.5% had anemia and 11.9% tested had renal insufficiency. A high percentage of patients presenting with a primary complaint of erectile dysfunction had increased hemoglobin AIc and total serum cholesterol levels (52.9% and 48.4%, respectively)."