What is thyroid & prolactin?

What is thyroid & prolactin?

I haven't been getting my period and I went to the gyno and she put me on the pill. but she did make me get a blood test to check thyroid & prolactin levels. she says that it has somethin to do with hormones, but I didn't really understand how that is associated with my period.

User Comments

1. med school and personal experience
2. this link for thyroid
   
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/thyroid...
   
   this link for prolactin
   
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/prolactin...
3. Your thyroid is the endocrine organ (gland) in your neck that secretes a hormone. Prolactin is a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland in your brain. The pituitary also secretes TSH which is a hormone that stimulates the thyroid gland to secrete its hormones. She was testing your hormones because both thyroid hormone and prolactin can cause problems with your period. If you have a growth on your pituitary it can secrete TOO MUCH prolactin, which would make your period stop, as well as cause your breasts to secrete milk. This can also cause problems with TSH, and thus your thyroid. Also, if you have a problem with your thyroid, which is very common (runs in my family), it can cause you not to secrete enough thyroid hormone, which can also cause you to stop having periods. Good luck!
4. help!