What is nipple discharge?
What causes nipple discharge?
The most common causes of nipple discharge are:
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A benign tumor in your milk duct (these tumors aren't cancer)
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Milk ducts that have gotten bigger, thicker, and filled with fluid
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Fibrocystic changes (a condition that includes breast pain, breast cysts, and other breast lumps that aren’t cancer)
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A breast infection that contains pus
Less common causes of nipple discharge are:
Prolactin is a hormone that tells your body to make breast milk after you have a baby. However, prolactin can be produced by certain health problems, such as thyroid or liver disorders, and certain medicines.
When should I go to a doctor for nipple discharge?
What will happen at my doctor visit?
Doctors will ask you questions about your symptoms and health. They’ll do an exam, including a breast exam.
To find out what's causing your nipple discharge, doctors may do other tests, such as:
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Blood tests to see your hormone levels
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Look at a sample of your discharge under a microscope
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Ultrasound (a test that uses sound waves to create a moving picture of the insides of your body) of your breast
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Mammogram (x-ray of your breast to screen for cancer)
