High prolactin is one issue many ladies have without even knowing. For some, it could cause nipple discharge that they will only know about when they decide to try for babies.
Jude had met Pauline a few years ago and they began to date. It was a blissful relationship that ended with that walk down the aisle to tie the knot.
Being true believers and doers of the word of God, they had stayed without sexual intercourse all through their courtship.
The wedding night was a night Jude had see several times in his dreams. Each time he does see it, he could wake with a hard morning wood (erection) or even a wet night wear (ejaculation).
After their wedding, that very moment he had hoped for came.
Pauline is a beautiful lady, with shape you would say was made on a Sunday and built by God Himself.
But there was something she never knew was happening.
Nipple Discharge
Like every other young lady, Pauline hardly examines her breast to the point she would notice a nipple discharge.
But it was right there, waiting to be stimulated enough before it will will flow freely like a fountain of life the breastmilk offers.
That very night, when Jude got his mouth to the nipple, he could feel the nipple discharge. Shocked and unaware of what it was, he stopped.
“Is there something you are hiding from me?”, he asked Pauline.
Shocked by the question, “Like what?”, she responded.
You have nipple discharge and from my knowledge, only nursing women or those who just did an abortion have it.
What Jude, like many men, does not know, is that Pauline has high prolactin – Prolactinoma.
Indeed this condition is increasingly becoming common with younger ladies.
What Is The Cause Of High Prolactin?
High prolactin levels, also known as hyperprolactinemia, can have several possible causes, including:
1. Prolactinoma
This is a noncancerous tumour of the pituitary gland, which is located at the base of the brain. Prolactinomas are the most common cause of hyperprolactinemia.
Out of the causes of hyperprolactinemia, pituitary tumours may be responsible for almost 50% (1).
Sometimes, physicians recommend brain surgery to correct.
2. Medications
Certain medications, such as antipsychotic drugs, antidepressants, and some medications used to treat high blood pressure, can increase prolactin levels.
3. Hypothyroidism
When the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones, it can cause an increase in prolactin levels.
Basically, the most common cause of hypothyroidism is an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto’s disease.
Your immune system makes antibodies that attack healthy tissues. Sometimes that process involves the thyroid gland and affects its ability to make hormones
Also, stress could trigger thyroid problems if it runs in the family.
4. Stress
Stress can cause an increase in the hormone cortisol, which can also increase prolactin levels.
This is one of the major cause for young persons who live in countries where they go through so much stress, resulting from sleep deprivation.
Pauline for instance, gets about 5 hours sleep every week day because she has to leave for work early.
Unfortunately, because of traffic situation, she returns late too.
5. Pregnancy And Breastfeeding
Prolactin levels naturally increase during pregnancy and breastfeeding to stimulate milk production.
6. Other Causes Of High Prolactin
Some other less common causes of hyperprolactinemia include chronic kidney disease, liver disease, and certain types of pituitary tumours that are not prolactinomas.
If you are experiencing symptoms of hyperprolactinemia, such as irregular periods, breast milk production, or decreased sex drive, it is important to see a healthcare provider to determine the underlying cause and develop a treatment plan.
If you want to try natural means, we will share a few that are very effective with you.
Risk Factor Of High Prolactin
Some of the risk factors when a lady has high prolactin is that it decreases levels of some sex hormones – namely, estrogen and testosterone.
Thankfully, a prolactinoma isn’t life-threatening.
Natural Treatment For High Prolactin
Interestingly, there is a saying that finding the cause of a thing means you have 50% of the solution already.
So, take a look at the above and see which one your diagnosis talks about.
Often, when you go for test, the result will show what the likely cause is. That will help you know whether it is stress, or thyroid issues.
Personal Decision Stage
Once you identify this, you will then begin to adjust your lifestyle to make sure that you eliminate what exposes you to that level of stress.
If it means taking some months’ leave off work for some time to treat this issue which can affect conception for women, please do.
After this personal decision stage, you will begin to be intentional with your food.
If it is thyroid issues, you will need to address the major cause of the thyroid issue, Unfortunately, stress is one of the things that pushes your thyroid out of level.
So addressing stress level is one way to begin.
Food That Help Beat Down High Prolactin
You see, the number one medicine that you have here on earth is your food. Being intentional with what you eat is surely a good road that leads you out of high prolactin.
So what foods help?
Load you diet with foods that are high in zinc. The best source of zinc is oysters (sea foods) – shellfish and others.
Also, you can get it from beef, turkey and beans. These depends on your age though and whether you have allergies for them.
Furthermore, you may need to buy Vitamin B6 supplement or go for – liver, tuna, salmon, chickpeas, poultry.
This vitamin is also very available in some vegetables and fruits, especially dark leafy greens, bananas, papayas, oranges, and cantaloupe.
You also need to alter your kitchen meal box by adding foods like potatoes, bananas, wild salmon, chicken and spinach. These foods will help boost this vitamin level.
Other Related Articles
- Hormonal Imbalance: 5 Food-Triggers You Should Know
- Hormonal Imbalance: 5 Natural Remedies That Work
- How I Corrected Hormonal Imbalance And Gave Birth To ‘Near Twin’
- Course: BEING FERTILE/ Natural Hormones Balancing Methods
Begin to make adjustment to the kind of food you eat now so that your new food plan is more intentional.
You need that intentionality for quite some time for this high prolactin to lower to the point that the nipple discharge will stop.
In all of this, alcohol should be kept aside for now. Also ensure that your blood sugar level is normal. Do less of high carb foods, white rice most especially.
Exercise Comes Handy Too
You see, for nutrients in this your new diet to flow to your organs and power them up to work as they should, you need to add exercise to the mix.
If the heart pushes blood well around your body, your organs, including your thyroid, will get enough nutrients.
Unfortunately, you may not be an exercise person. You can start with a 5-minutes daily workout or less.
After some time, begin to raise the bar. The target is a 150-minute weekly workout, as recommended by the world health organisation (2).
Share the time by the number of days you intend to exercise in a week.
If you follow these recommendations diligently, you will surely get result.
Dear reader, if this works for you, please, come back and share your result so that others will see how effective it is.