What's This Discharge Coming from My Nipple?

When a fluid or other liquid leaks from your nipples, it’s referred to as nipple discharge, which may happen on its own or after squeezing them. 

Nipple discharge is incredibly common, especially during your reproductive years, with over 80% of women experiencing nipple discharge at some point in their lives. 

While nipple discharge isn’t typically a cause for concern, it can point to an underlying health issue that requires attention from a medical professional. 

Karen Mass, MD, FACOG, and the rest of our women’s health team at Women’s Specialty Care in Lake Forest and Grayslake, Illinois, are passionate about empowering you to know what’s normal and abnormal about your breasts, including nipple discharge. 

In this month’s blog, we discuss different causes of nipple discharge and possible signs that your discharge requires a trip to come see us. 

When is nipple discharge considered normal?

Nipple discharge is not usually an indicator of a serious health issue, such as breast cancer. So, let’s take a look at common causes of nipple discharge and their symptoms that don’t warrant any concern:

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

During pregnancy, the fluid that comes before milk (colostrum) can start to leak out in the months or weeks leading up to birth. It can start as thin and light-yellow, but it can start to thicken and become more milk-like as your body gets ready to breastfeed your baby. 

While you’re breastfeeding, it’s common to have frequent milk leaks. You may continue to experience leakage for up to three years after you finish breastfeeding.

Hormone fluctuations

As your estrogen levels fluctuate throughout your menstrual cycle, you can experience breast changes. Your breasts might become swollen, tender, and slightly lumpy, and some women experience a little bit of nipple discharge. 

Fluctuating hormone levels due to perimenopause may cause an uptick in nipple discharge, as well.

When related to hormone changes, nipple discharge typically occurs when your breasts are touched or squeezed and can be milky or green-brown in color. 

Medications

Some medications can trigger nipple discharge due to an increase in either estrogen or prolactin production. Common medications that can cause nipple discharge include hormonal birth control, hormonal acne medications, and antidepressants. 

When is nipple discharge considered serious?

Some causes of nipple discharge require medical evaluation. Let’s look at a few:

Infection

Mastitis is an infection in your breast that can lead to painful abscesses in your nipple and around your areola.

If you notice that you have nipple discharge that’s pus-like and has a foul odor, and you’ve developed other symptoms such as a fever and severe breast pain, don’t wait to have it examined. Letting the infection go untreated could cause it to spread to other parts of your body.

Mammary duct ectasia 

As you get closer to menopause, it’s common for your milk ducts to widen and become clogged with thick discharge. While it’s possible for this condition to go away on its own, it can lead to mastitis and eventually require surgery. 

Seek medical treatment for possible mammary duct ectasia if your nipples are red and tender and have very thick green or brown discharge. 

Breast cancer

Though it’s very rare, nipple discharge can signal early-stage breast cancer. Nipple discharge due to breast cancer is often only on one side and leaks on its own. You may notice other symptoms such as breast dimpling, nipple inversion, or a mass.

Seek expert-level care with our team

Even if your nipple discharge isn’t accompanied by anything concerning, you know your body best. Don’t wait to reach out to our team for a breast evaluation if you feel like something is off.

You can schedule an appointment with us by calling your nearest office location or using our online booking feature today.