Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
Nipple discharge
Answered by
Cleveland - OH
Questions posted in the Breast Cancer Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Cleveland Clinic. Topics include Breast Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Lumps, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Lymphedema, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Self Breast Exam, and Surgery.
Nipple discharge
by lors, Apr 15, 2007 12:00AM
I am 24 years old, and have no family history of breast or ovarian cancer. I self examined myself today, and found that i could express a yellowish discharge the consistency of cream. this was in my left nipple - only a clearish serous discharge was expressable from my right nipple. i have also been able to express fluid, from my what i assume is a montgomery gland in my left areola, for some time.
i have never been pregnant, and am currently only taking COCP, which i have been on for several years with no problems.
im pretty sure that this is normal and physiological, but am slightly concerned about the possibility of mamary duct fistula, given the areola and nipple discharge.(although i may also be suffering from the usual hypochondria that affects many medical students!!) i have no breast pain, skin changes, tenderness, erythema or any palapble lumps on self-examination, and have no systemic symptoms.
if someone could just reassure me that this is a version of normal, i would be very grateful!
i have never been pregnant, and am currently only taking COCP, which i have been on for several years with no problems.
im pretty sure that this is normal and physiological, but am slightly concerned about the possibility of mamary duct fistula, given the areola and nipple discharge.(although i may also be suffering from the usual hypochondria that affects many medical students!!) i have no breast pain, skin changes, tenderness, erythema or any palapble lumps on self-examination, and have no systemic symptoms.
if someone could just reassure me that this is a version of normal, i would be very grateful!
Doctor's Answer
by Cleveland Clinic, Apr 16, 2007 12:00AM
, Apr 16, 2007 12:00AM
Dear lors: Many women have some type of nipple discharge or fluid when their breasts are squeezed, and its normal. Squeezing the nipple sends message to the brain and the pituitary gland responds by increasing prolactin levels, which in turn produces discharge from the nipple. The discharge can come in a variety of colors - gray, green and brown as well as white. Some women are more prone to more discharge including women on; birth control pills, certain blood pressure medications or on major tranquilizers. These medications increase prolactin levels in the body. There is also certain life periods when a person is more likely to get discharge than others: there may be more discharge at puberty and at menopause than the years in-between. The time to worry about nipple discharge is when it’s spontaneous (comes out by itself without squeezing), keeps on happening,is only on one side, and/or if it is clear and sticky, like an egg white, or bloody. If these symptoms are present a doctor should check you. In addition to montgomery’s glands, the areola also has sebaceous glands, that, when expressed will produce a clearish, whitish discharge. It is harmless and normal.
