Conception and the subsequent development of pregnancy is possible only in the absence of hormonal disorders in the body of a woman. It is hormones - biologically active substances - responsible for the process of maturation of the egg and create favorable conditions for its fertilization, participate in the preparation for childbirth and breastfeeding. Great influence on the possibility of conception and pregnancy itself has prolactin.
Prolactin - the norm in pregnancy
It is well known that during pregnancy the level of prolactin is increased, this phenomenon is considered the norm and is due to the main action of the hormone. The greatest influence in this period of prolactin has on mammary glands, gradually preparing them for the production of colostrum and milk. Under its influence, the structure and size of the breast changes - the fatty tissue is replaced with a secretory one. These structural changes fully contribute to the implementation of subsequent breastfeeding.
Increased concentration of prolactin in pregnancy is also necessary for the child, as penetrating into his body, the hormone promotes the development of the lungs. To be more precise, it participates in the formation of a surfactant - a special substance that covers the inner surface of the lungs and prepares the pulmonary system for vital activity.
In addition, recently one more equally important property of prolactin has been proved - it is its ability to provide an analgesic effect.
As a rule, the level of prolactin in pregnancy is not determined, since its indices unambiguously exceed the norm for a non-pregnant woman, and this is considered a necessary condition for the development of pregnancy.
How does prolactin affect pregnancy?
When planning pregnancy, especially if there are problems with conception, doctors recommend taking an analysis for prolactin. Any abnormalities, that is, a low or elevated level of prolactin, can not only testify to the presence of pathological processes in the body of a woman, but also often make the process of pregnancy impossible. For example, increased prolactin occurs due to such diseases as benign pituitary tumor, polycystic ovary, renal failure, cirrhosis, and others.
In most cases, women with high concentrations of this hormone are menstrual irregularities, obesity, mammary gland secretions, tearfulness, and, importantly, when planning, this is the absence of ovulation. If you still get pregnant, then the increased prolactin for its further development is not a threat. That is, the current opinion that elevated prolactin becomes the cause of a stagnant pregnancy is unreasonable and has no scientific confirmation.