***Blood test results - Problem with prolactin***

[Ninasarvik]

Just got back my blood test results and everything is just fine except Prolactin levels which are very high (1320 mIU/L). Normal is 53-360 mIU/L.

I had a 14-week Test Enanthate cycle (600mg/wk) in the end of last year and 4-week PCT in January (Clomid + Nolvadex).

What could have caused the high Prolactin levels? Clomid and Nolva? Or are Clomid and Nolvadex actually lowering Prolactin levels?

I haven't had Prolactin tested in blood before, so it could be genes as well. What do you guys think?

[Ninasarvik]

Bump!

[Maetenloch]

Since you're not on AAS or SERMs currently, it's unlikely they're causing your prolactin levels to be high. If you're not experiencing any prolactin side effects, this may be your natural level. I'd have a doctor check you out though as certain tumors can cause high prolactin levels.

[BuildaBeast]

Since you're not on AAS or SERMs currently, it's unlikely they're causing your prolactin levels to be high. If you're not experiencing any prolactin side effects, this may be your natural level. I'd have a doctor check you out though as certain tumors can cause high prolactin levels.

I had a blood test to check prolactin levels and he said if it was high could be a chance of a tumor. I would get with the doc and check into it for sure.

[Ninasarvik]

Hmm... so high prolactin levels can't be caused by Clomid or Nolva for sure?

I have heard myself that after you stop PCT, the estrogen and prolactin levels may go up again... My estrogen was normal though.

[stupidhippo]

i dunno... interesting topic BUT ppl who cycle seem to have often high prolactin so IMO there probably is a connection... any1 can explain this?

[Maetenloch]

i dunno... interesting topic BUT ppl who cycle seem to have often high prolactin so IMO there probably is a connection... any1 can explain this?

Certain steroids like nandrolone and tren are progestins and weakly activate the progesterone receptors. In some people this can cause higher prolactin levels through feedback channels. Many people take cabergoline or bromocriptine while taking high doses of these steroids to avoid any issues. Doctors also prescribe these to people with tumors of the pituitary to lower their prolactin levels.

[stupidhippo]

yeah i know cabergoline and bromocriptine are used BUT they work through the dopamine - prolactien feedback system... didnt know why gear causes high prolactin, u are sure its the progesterone receptor mediated effect? cause some ppl get high prolactin from just test..

[Maetenloch]

Looking around I haven't found a good explanation for exactly why some AAS cause prolactin to increase. There seems to be a lot of vague hand waving.

High levels of progesterone can cause the pituitary to produce more prolactin. I assume this is through it's effect on the hypothalamus which normally sends an 'off' signal to the pituitary, but I've yet to see the exact mechanism described. It makes sense that progestin AAS have the same effect. High estrogen levels can sometimes also raise prolactin levels which might explain why test-only cycles could produce high prolactin.

Maybe one of our resident medical experts can fill in the gaps here...

[Ninasarvik]

But do high prolactin levels have bad influence to muscle growth and/or testosterone levels?

I mean, I haven't gained a pound of muscle after coming off the cycle and finishing PCT 6-7 months ago. Although my caloric intake is almost 5000kcal a day, I'm resting much and training a lot!

[Ninasarvik]

But do high prolactin levels have bad influence to muscle growth and/or testosterone levels?

I mean, I haven't gained a pound of muscle after coming off the cycle and finishing PCT 6-7 months ago. Although my caloric intake is almost 5000kcal a day, I'm resting much and training a lot!

BUMP!

[Ninasarvik]

But do high prolactin levels have bad influence to muscle growth and/or testosterone levels?

I mean, I haven't gained a pound of muscle after coming off the cycle and finishing PCT 6-7 months ago. Although my caloric intake is almost 5000kcal a day, I'm resting much and training a lot!

[Ninasarvik]

Bump.

[Ninasarvik]

Help!

[IBdmfkr]

You haven't gained a lb in 6-7months.. try changing what you're doing, obviously it's not working

Diet/training/rest etc.. something is off, high prolactin levels won't cause absolutely no change in LBM over 6month period.

[fred9]

yo, let ur thyroid hormones checked, if ur pituary receptors arent sensitive for TRH then there is no negative feefback from tsh,t3 and t4....and trh activates the production of prolactin and TSH(normally)...This is possible because AAS increases thyroid production while on cycle...

its also just like someone mentioned above that its because of a estrogen rebound, estrogen and prolactin are in some way related to each other..thats the reason why letro helps to prevent deca/tren gyno...low levels estrogen is also low levels of prolactin...

High prolactin also has nasty side effects... libido problems, depressed because of low dopamine which results indirect to low HGH...

[Alpha-Male]

hmm, do you take any medications? what's your alcohol consumption like?

[Alpha-Male]

also, i have RA, which gives me higher than normal PRL levels...but it is also seen in people with systemic lupus, Reiter's syndrome, psoriatic arthritis...

i didn't realize i had RA until last year...according to my rheumatologist, he feels that something i had "supplemented" with may have provided a positive environment for the disease to kick in, since it's something you're usually born with...(just turned 30)...

[Ninasarvik]

yo, let ur thyroid hormones checked, if ur pituary receptors arent sensitive for TRH then there is no negative feefback from tsh,t3 and t4....and trh activates the production of prolactin and TSH(normally)...This is possible because AAS increases thyroid production while on cycle...

its also just like someone mentioned above that its because of a estrogen rebound, estrogen and prolactin are in some way related to each other..thats the reason why letro helps to prevent deca/tren gyno...low levels estrogen is also low levels of prolactin...

High prolactin also has nasty side effects... libido problems, depressed because of low dopamine which results indirect to low HGH...

Thyroid hormones were quite normal (as basically everything else except Prolactin):

S-TSH 1,72 mIU/L, S-fT4 18,5 pmol/L, S-fT3 7,07 pmol/L

Estrogen was OK too - 119 pmol/L. So low levels estrogen is not always low levels of prolactin like you said

[Merc..]

Looking around I haven't found a good explanation for exactly why some AAS cause prolactin to increase. There seems to be a lot of vague hand waving.

High levels of progesterone can cause the pituitary to produce more prolactin. I assume this is through it's effect on the hypothalamus which normally sends an 'off' signal to the pituitary, but I've yet to see the exact mechanism described. It makes sense that progestin AAS have the same effect. High estrogen levels can sometimes also raise prolactin levels which might explain why test-only cycles could produce high prolactin.

Maybe one of our resident medical experts can fill in the gaps here...

All steriods( even test) lower T-3 which in turn increase prolactin...

[Ninasarvik]

hmm, do you take any medications? what's your alcohol consumption like?

Haven't had alcohol for almost a year bro.

[Ninasarvik]

All steriods lower T-3 which in turn increase prolactin...

Well, my T-3 is actually rather high. Normal levels end somewhere at 6,5-7 pmol/L.

[Alpha-Male]

All steriods lower T-3 which in turn increase prolactin...

exactly, this is why i always, and always advocate (as i'm sure others do), take/taking t3 for every cycle (personally, just 1 pill/day seems to do the trick for me, and on paper, should for most)...

[Merc..]

What did your doc say he thought was raising it so high??

[Ninasarvik]

What did your doc say he thought was raising it so high??

Sorry bro, I had the analyses done myself.. Didn't have a doc for that.

But I'm going to see an endocrinologe about the prolactin issue. Unfortunately, I can't tell her that I was using AAS.

[Alpha-Male]

yeah, others might disagree, but i'd hold off on telling her that until you get a thorough evaluation done...some doctors tend to get tunnel vision after that confession, gives 'em an easy way out...i apologize, i didn't realize you hadn't been to see a specialist yet...we could have cut this thread short a long time ago

"go see doc"

there, done.

[Ninasarvik]

I will. But the queue is usually very very long for endocrinologist.

But nobody has answered yet to the most important question I stated:

Is it possible that PCT caused high Prolactin levels? Or are Clomid and Nolvadex actually lowering Prolactin levels?

Thanks

[Alpha-Male]

no, they work to lower it, at least in the studies i've seen on women with very high levels due to cancer and such...however, someone else may know better...

[tullemus]

Jup Iam sure I have read sometime that clomid or was it nolvadex that it Could lower prolactin, or for sure lower it, cant remember.. Maybe someone who have read it also or have information on it can chime in..
Maybe I remember wrong

[Ninasarvik]

no, they work to lower it, at least in the studies i've seen on women with very high levels due to cancer and such...however, someone else may know better...

Okay. It is obvious that Testosterone didn't get my prolactin levels through the roof either... so it's probably in genes?

[Alpha-Male]

man, pleeeeeze don't settle for that....not trying to freak you out, but it could be the sign of a pretty serious problem....i think you mentioned that you're going to an endo, right? KEEP THAT APPT.!!!!