What Produced Prolactin

Prolactin is a hormone produced by your pituitary gland which sits at the bottom of the brain. Prolactin causes breasts to grow and develop and causes milk to be made after a baby is born. Normally, both men and women have small amounts of prolactin in their blood.

What stimulates the production of prolactin?

The main stimulus for prolactin secretion is suckling, the effect of which is neuronally mediated. A key regulator of prolactin production is estrogens that enhance growth of prolactin-producing cells and stimulate prolactin production directly, as well as suppressing dopamine.

What naturally increases prolactin?

For people who have just given birth, a rise in prolactin naturally beings milk production. Breastfeeding or pumping breast milk sends a signal to your brain to stimulate prolactin. The prolactin hormone helps milk glands in the breasts know to produce milk.