Prolactin, in Kolkata

Fasting and dietary instructions:

No special fasting needed. Avoid heavy fatty meals and alcohol the evening before as a general precaution.

Medication guidance:

For reproductive hormone tests (LH, FSH, oestradiol), collect on day 2 to 5 of your menstrual cycle as specified by your doctor. Hormonal contraceptives significantly affect LH, FSH, and oestradiol , inform your doctor if you use any.

What to bring:

Bring your doctor's prescription or test requisition, a valid photo ID, and your corporate health insurance card if using cashless OPD. Wear short sleeves or clothing with sleeves that roll up easily.

Timing:

Book the earliest available morning slot. For fasting tests, an overnight fast followed by a morning draw represents the optimal balance between adequate fasting duration and test accuracy.

Single standalone test:

Prolactin. Can be ordered individually or as part of a preventive health package on GetVisit.

When does a doctor order Prolactin?

Prolactin is ordered when a doctor needs objective laboratory data to confirm a diagnosis, follow up a previously abnormal result, or complete a pre-operative assessment.

Who should get Prolactin done in Kolkata?

PCOS is increasingly prevalent among young working women in Kolkata's IT and services sector , particularly in Salt Lake Sector V, New Town's business parks, and the EM Bypass corridor. Irregular cycles and unexplained weight gain in this demographic frequently go untested for years. Prolactin is often ordered as part of an endocrine or pituitary hormone panel. Doctors request it for symptoms like unexplained breast milk discharge, irregular periods, infertility, low libido, headaches, or vision changes. Adults above 30 in Kolkata benefit from periodic health screening that includes Prolactin as part of a broader preventive panel. Residents of Salt Lake, Tollygunge, and across the city with chronic conditions, those on long-term medication, and individuals with a relevant family history should test at the frequency their specialist recommends.

What conditions can Prolactin help diagnose?

The conditions diagnosable through Prolactin depend on the specific markers the test measures. Results either confirm a suspected diagnosis, support a clinical suspicion requiring further investigation, or effectively exclude the condition the test was screening for.

What do Prolactin results mean?

LH and FSH levels in women vary by cycle phase. Elevated FSH (above 10 IU/L on day 3) with low AMH suggests reduced ovarian reserve. Elevated LH:FSH ratio (above 2:1) with irregular cycles: PCOS. Elevated prolactin: causes range from stress and medication to pituitary adenoma , requires repeat fasting testing before clinical action. Low testosterone in men: hypogonadism , further investigation with LH, FSH, and prolactin needed.

How often should Prolactin be repeated?

For preventive screening with a normal baseline: annually for most adults above 35. For monitoring a known condition: at the interval your specialist recommends , typically every 3 to 6 months for active conditions and annually for stable, well-controlled ones.

What happens after Prolactin results are ready?

Your GetVisit digital report is delivered to your phone as soon as results are authorised. Share it directly with your doctor via the app, or book a consultation with a GetVisit-verified specialist on the same platform. Critical values outside a safe range are flagged by the laboratory for urgent clinical review.