What does nipple discharge indicate?

Nipple discharge does not always indicate a disease. Therefore, there is no need to sound the alarm ahead of time. It is not without reason that the female breast is called the mammary gland: like any gland, it produces a natural secretion. However, it is still worth seeing a doctor to make sure that you are completely healthy.

Small, infrequent discharge in itself, even if you are not a nursing mother, does not portend anything terrible. The color of the discharge should alert you:

1. if the discharge is clear or yellowish, watery, or contains blood;

2. if discharge from one or both nipples is constant.

Causes

There may be several reasons why you may have nipple discharge.

Dilation of the milk ducts (ectasia) is one of the most common causes of breast discharge. One or more ducts become inflamed and the duct fills with thick, sticky green or black secretions. Most often occurs in women 40-50 years old.

Galactorrhea is the discharge of milk, colostrum or milk-like fluid from the mammary glands. The reasons are an increase in the level of prolactin in the body, as well as other hormonal imbalances in the body as a result of taking hormonal contraceptives, insufficiency of thyroid function, pituitary tumor (prolactinoma), etc.

Mastopathy. In this case, the discharge from the nipples is transparent, yellow or green.

It is difficult to establish one specific cause of mastopathy, but what happens in the mammary gland is known: inflammation, swelling, fibrosis, cystic degeneration. Treatment is aimed at these mechanisms of development of pathological changes in the mammary gland.

Diseases of the pelvic organs (uterus, appendages), as well as the condition after an abortion or miscarriage. How abundant the discharge will be after an abortion depends on how far into the pregnancy the pregnancy was terminated. The shorter the period, the fewer changes have occurred in the body, and the less discharge there will be. Typically, bleeding continues for about 2 days; later, with the normal development of the situation, only scanty discharge occurs.

Closed breast injury. The discharge may be clear, yellow or bloody.

Purulent diseases of the mammary gland (accumulation of pus). In this case, surgery and antibiotic therapy will be required.

Mastitis (acute infectious inflammation of the mammary glands). Treatment can be either conservative or surgical, depending on the degree of neglect.

Intraductal papilloma (benign tumor). Discharge from the breast is usually bloody and has a thick consistency. Treatment is surgical with mandatory histological examination of the removed material (to exclude malignancy).

Breast cancer (malignant tumor). Just like intraductal papilloma, it can be asymptomatic. Particularly alarming signs are the presence of spontaneous bloody discharge from only one breast, as well as at the same time an increase in the size of the mammary gland and/or the detection of nodular formations.

Paget's disease (a special form of breast cancer) is a tumor that specifically affects the nipple. Signs of this cancer include burning, itching in the nipple area, redness or darkening of the areola, peeling of the skin of the nipple and areola, changes in the appearance of the nipple, and bloody discharge from the nipple.

At the doctor's

When planning an appointment with a doctor, think in advance about the answers to the questions that he will definitely ask you:

1. How much does the discharge appear, what color is it?

2. Is the discharge coming from one or both breasts?

3. Does the secretion appear from one canal on the nipple or from several at once?

4. Does the fluid swell on its own or do you have to press on the chest to make it appear?

5. Are there any pain in the mammary glands, general malaise, vision problems, headaches?

6. Were there chest injuries?

If at the time of your visit to the doctor you are taking any medications, be sure to tell him about it.

Survey

After inspection in