Prolactin what controls it & how much is too much

[gregxy]

I have been on TRT for a few months but it has not done much in
terms of sex. (My T level went from 380 - 1000). I have tried estrogen
blockers at various levels (ATD, DIM, Letrozole) and they help but
not enough. The TRT did work at first but seemed to wear off after
a few weeks.

The only hormone that was out of the ref range was
Prolactin at 15 [3 - 13]. The Dr did an MRI but found nothing.

The literature says prolactin supresses sex drive by reducing Test AND
some other mechanism that is not understood, however usually this
is in guys with prloactemia where the prolactin level is over 100.

I'm thinking of getting some cabergoline and trying it. Anyone out there
know more about prolactin?

I've never done steroids but my sex drive always has been low and
now it is getting lower as I get older.

Thanks.

[marianco]

Originally Posted by gregxy

I have been on TRT for a few months but it has not done much in
terms of sex. (My T level went from 380 - 1000). I have tried estrogen
blockers at various levels (ATD, DIM, Letrozole) and they help but
not enough. The TRT did work at first but seemed to wear off after
a few weeks.

The only hormone that was out of the ref range was
Prolactin at 15 [3 - 13]. The Dr did an MRI but found nothing.

The literature says prolactin supresses sex drive by reducing Test AND
some other mechanism that is not understood, however usually this
is in guys with prloactemia where the prolactin level is over 100.

I'm thinking of getting some cabergoline and trying it. Anyone out there
know more about prolactin?

I've never done steroids but my sex drive always has been low and
now it is getting lower as I get older.

Thanks.

Dopamine controls prolactin levels - reducing prolactin release from the pituitary. Testosterone increases dopamine levels.

When testosterone is high but libido is low, among some thoughts:
1. Is enough DHT being made from testosterone? DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is the active form of testosterone in the brain that promotes libido. DHT can be increased by using a transdermal testosterone - with the highest amounts if placed on the scrotum. DHT can also be used directly in a transdermal gel. Some men who genetically have low alpha-reductase activity (who happen to also have a full head of hair as a result), may have low DHT and low libido.
2. Is there too much estrogen or too little estrogen activity? An aromatase inhibitor or Diindoylmethane or Indol-3-Carbinol can be used to adjust estrogen level downwards until the correct amount is achieved.
3. Is there some unidentified hormone from the testes which improves libido? HCG treatment often increases libido more often than by using testosterone alone. The testes make more than 17 other hormones, including progesterone and oxytocin, which may have a role in increasing libido.
4. Is progesterone low? This and low DHEA are some of the clues that adrenal fatigue is present. Adrenal fatigue needs to be addressed in order to have adequate energy and hormones for libido.
5. Is dopamine level functionally low despite the increase in testosterone/DHT, since testosterone/DHT increase dopamine levels? For whatever reason (including Parkinson's disease or depression or ADHD, etc.), if dopamine level is too low, libido will be low. Low dopamine results in high prolactin. Some cases of ADHD involve dopamine-resistance. Higher dopamine levels are needed to get the same effect as normal attention people. In these cases, the use of a stimulant or other medication that increases dopamine may be useful.

[jawbone]

vit B6 will lower prolactin if thats what you want to do.

[heavyuser]

Originally Posted by marianco

Dopamine controls prolactin levels - reducing prolactin release from the pituitary. Testosterone increases dopamine levels.

When testosterone is high but libido is low, among some thoughts:
1. Is enough DHT being made from testosterone? DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is the active form of testosterone in the brain that promotes libido. DHT can be increased by using a transdermal testosterone - with the highest amounts if placed on the scrotum. DHT can also be used directly in a transdermal gel. Some men who genetically have low alpha-reductase activity (who happen to also have a full head of hair as a result), may have low DHT and low libido.
2. Is there too much estrogen or too little estrogen activity? An aromatase inhibitor or Diindoylmethane or Indol-3-Carbinol can be used to adjust estrogen level downwards until the correct amount is achieved.
3. Is there some unidentified hormone from the testes which improves libido? HCG treatment often increases libido more often than by using testosterone alone. The testes make more than 17 other hormones, including progesterone and oxytocin, which may have a role in increasing libido.
4. Is progesterone low? This and low DHEA are some of the clues that adrenal fatigue is present. Adrenal fatigue needs to be addressed in order to have adequate energy and hormones for libido.
5. Is dopamine level functionally low despite the increase in testosterone/DHT, since testosterone/DHT increase dopamine levels? For whatever reason (including Parkinson's disease or depression or ADHD, etc.), if dopamine level is too low, libido will be low. Low dopamine results in high prolactin. Some cases of ADHD involve dopamine-resistance. Higher dopamine levels are needed to get the same effect as normal attention people. In these cases, the use of a stimulant or other medication that increases dopamine may be useful.

Marianco@

Is this explanation of my problem, when i am on the steroid cycle ( testosteron 1000mg weekly), also have dificulties with erections, and libido is very low???

[chap]

could be an explanation, or not

blood tests would help

I've had poor libido on testosterone even when prolactin was low

there are many many hormones and variables to consider, prolactin is only one of them

[gregxy]

Marianco,

Has it been shown that Testosterone controls dopamine or are they
just correlated? There is plenty of evidence that prolactin suppresses
testosterone (as in prolactemia) so if they are corelated it could be
dopamine which controls testosterone (through prolactin)

If test does enhance dopamine then it appears that there may be a positive
feedback loop: dopamine suppresses prolactin, prolactin suppresses
testosterone, and testosterone enhances dopamine. (two negatives
make a positive). Positive loops
can be unstable and "lock" in a high or low state. A loop like this
could explain how steroid users shut down their HPTA system.

I believe that estrogen enhances prolactin so a strong estrogenic
steriod could trigger this mechanism.

Prolactin in the normal range may reduce test. See the attached
paper, the normal range is stated as < 20, yet for some of the
subjects Test levels did not start to rise until prolactin was below 20
(see fig 1)


http://eje-online.org/cgi/reprint/138/3/286