Sometimes a woman's breasts make milk even though she is not pregnant or breastfeeding. This condition is called galactorrhea (say: guh-lack-tuh-ree-ah). The milk may come from one or both breasts. It may leak on its own or only when the breasts are touched.
Galactorrhea is a condition where your breasts leak milk. The main sign of galactorrhea is when it happens in people who aren't pregnant or breastfeeding. It's caused by stimulation, medication or a pituitary gland disorder.
Nipple discharge can be normal in women or people assigned female at birth (AFAB). It's always abnormal in men or people assigned male at birth (AMAB). Hormones, lactation or sexual arousal can be normal causes for nipple discharge. Abnormal causes could be from tumors, infection or rarely, breast cancer.
Nipple discharge refers to any fluid that seeps out of the nipple of the breast. Nipple discharge during pregnancy and breast-feeding is normal. Nipple discharge happens less commonly in women who aren't pregnant or breast-feeding.
Both abnormal and normal nipple discharge can be clear, yellow, white, or green in color. Normal nipple discharge more commonly occurs in both nipples and is often released when the nipples are compressed or squeezed. Some women who are concerned about breast secretions may actually cause it to worsen.
PHYSIOLOGIC CONDITIONS. Galactorrhea may be considered physiologic. Pregnant women may lactate as early as the second trimester and may continue to produce milk for up to two years after cessation of breast-feeding.
Often, milky discharge associated with idiopathic galactorrhea goes away on its own, particularly if you can avoid breast stimulation or medications that are known to cause nipple discharge.
Galactorrhea refers to a condition where your nipples secrete a milky fluid that resembles breast milk, except you aren't pregnant or nursing. While this condition may be relatively painless and often benign, there could be serious underlying causes.
Nonmilky nipple discharge — particularly bloody, yellow or clear spontaneous discharge that comes from one duct or is associated with a lump you can feel — requires prompt medical attention, as it may be a sign of an underlying breast cancer.
Galactorrhea is a benign type of nipple discharge; that is, it has no association with breast cancer. Galactorrhea is a whitish or greenish discharge from the breast nipples. Usually the discharge is from both breasts rather than just one.
The main symptom of galactorrhea is a milky white discharge from one or both nipples. Sometimes, the discharge is yellow or greenish in color.
Galactorrhea is milky breast discharge that happens in women who aren't pregnant or breastfeeding. It affects as many as 1 out of every 4 or 5 women. It can happen at any age, even after menopause, and even if you've never had children.
Galactorrhea is milk production from the breast unrelated to pregnancy or lactation. Milk production one year after cessation of breastfeeding is non-lactational and is considered galactorrhea.
The most common pathologic cause of galactorrhea is a pituitary tumor.
Sometimes a woman's breasts make milk even though she is not pregnant or breastfeeding. This condition is called galactorrhea (say: guh-lack-tuh-ree-ah). The milk may come from one or both breasts. It may leak on its own or only when the breasts are touched.
Prolactinomas are noncancerous tumors made up from special cells (lactotrophs) in the pituitary gland. The most common symptom of a prolactinoma is galactorrhea, which is the production of breast milk in men or in women other than during and following pregnancy.
Galactorrhea (guh-LACK-toe-REE-uh) is milk discharge from the breast that is unrelated to breastfeeding or that happens at least one year after stopping breastfeeding. It usually happens in both breasts, but it can also happen in only one. Both women and men can have galactorrhea.
Galactorrhea is reported in 5%–10% of women with regular menses, nearly all of whom have normal prolactin levels.
A: High prolactin levels in a woman with galactorrhea can interfere with ovulation, thereby causing hormonal imbalance and irregular periods, which decrease the chances of getting pregnant.
Prolactinomas are tumors that secrete prolactin, a hormone that normally regulates lactation in women. These tumors are usually detected earlier in women, compared to men, because they cause more manifestations in women.
Regardless of what the research says, stress does cause physiological changes within the body. It boosts adrenaline and cortisol. These stress hormones, in turn, inhibit the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Stress also increases prolactin production.