The effect of stress upon serum prolactin concentrations in pregnant and non-pregnant women

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Abstract
Summary A study of 6 non-pregnant healthy women and 6 healthy women in their last 4 weeks of pregnancy has been undertaken to determine whether venepuncture or attendance at a hospital clinic caused any difference in the levels of prolactin in serum. Neither stimulus caused a consistent change in the hormone concentrations of any patient; in the pregnant women prolactin concentrations fluctuated during the 2-hour test period so that a single venous blood sample was not as representative of their basal status as it would be for a non-pregnant individual. It is suggested that in pregnant women for whom a prolactin determination may have clinical relevance, such as in the monitoring of those with suspected pituitary adenomas, about four venous blood samples should be obtained over 2 hours and the hormone concentration determined on the pooled serum.

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