White nipple drops. Common causes of chest discharge with pressure

Fluid escaping from the nipples is one of the signs of breast diseases, unless, of course, a woman is carrying a child and is not breastfeeding.

But it is not worth sounding the alarm ahead of time, because the nature of the organ is such that it produces a natural secret throughout life, and discharge from the mammary gland when pressed can be observed even in healthy women.

What should be remembered in this situation, and in what cases should you immediately contact a medical institution?

The mammary glands of women are composed of glandular tissue through which many channels pass, and the nipples have about 10 holes through which milk is excreted.

Outside the period of gestation and breastfeeding, fluid can appear from one or more tubules for a variety of reasons.

The likelihood of its occurrence increases in older and giving birth women, but sometimes a similar phenomenon is observed in very young girls and even in men.

A woman will not be able to independently determine the factors that cause discharge from the nipples, so she should pay special attention to their color, texture and other characteristics.

Any discharge from the nipples in newborn girls is a variant of the norm - after birth, the mammary glands undergo a kind of "training", which consists in engorgement and the production of a liquid similar to colostrum, sometimes mixed with blood.

Why does fluid appear from the chest?

The main cause of breast discharge is pregnancy. Sometimes fluid appears in the first weeks after conception, when the other signs of "interesting position" are absent. Closer to the third trimester, the amount of discharge increases, and after the birth of the baby, the breast begins to fully produce milk.

The following cases also belong to the variants of the norm:

• the period after the end of lactation (sometimes up to 2-3 years);
• treatment with hormonal drugs and antidepressants;
• wearing too tight underwear;
• the use of oral contraceptives;
• recent mammography;
• serious physical activity.

By itself, a single discharge from the chest does not pose a danger, but consultation with a doctor in this case is still necessary, especially if they are accompanied by other signs (redness of the skin, engorgement, pain, etc.).

According to statistics, most breast cancers occur without discharge from the breast, so most often this symptom indicates a local inflammatory process or benign tumors.

Selections when pressed

When detecting nipple discharge, a woman needs to pay attention to factors such as the nature of the appearance of fluid (when pressed, independently, moderately or intensely), the color of the discharge and the phase of the menstrual cycle.

The appearance of fluid when pressing on the nipple is typical for a number of diseases and pathologies of the mammary glands.

Among them:

1. Ectasia of the milk ducts. A disease that most often develops in older women and is characterized by deformation of the milk ducts.
2. Fibrocystic breast disease. One of the most common reasons for nipple discharge is that one or more cysts appear in the breast, that is, hollow formations with liquid secretion inside.
3. Hormonal imbalance (excessive production of the hormone prolactin). This condition is called galactorrhea and most often develops as a result of long-term use of oral contraceptives.
4. The appearance of papilloma in the milk duct. Papilloma is a benign formation that can appear both on the surface of the skin and in the tissues of the breast.
5. Mastitis or abscess. An inflammatory or purulent-inflammatory process that develops in the chest due to infection.
6. Mechanical trauma to the mammary glands. With bruises or blunt mechanical trauma to the chest, discharge from the nipples may appear, and their nature and intensity depends on the severity of the injury.
7. Cancer diseases. The most dangerous reason for the health of the discharge from the nipple, which requires surgery, and if left untreated, it can lead to sad consequences.

It is very important to pay attention to additional symptoms that accompany the discharge: changes in the shape of the mammary gland or the color of the skin, pain and discomfort in the chest, the presence of formations or seals.

In inflammatory processes and hormonal disorders, the most intense release of fluid from the nipples is observed in the second phase of the menstrual cycle, and after the end of menstruation, they can disappear altogether. In the case of cancerous tumors, discharge is usually not associated with the menstrual cycle.

What can be the discharge?

The fluid that is released from the nipples during diseases and pathological conditions can have a different color, from transparent or light yellow to bloody and dark brown.

The shade of the discharge, as well as its texture and smell, play an important role in determining the cause that caused this phenomenon.

Allocations can be of the following nature:

1. Transparent highlights. In most cases, the clear liquid that is released in small drops when you press on the nipple does not entail any serious consequences. A woman needs to undergo a routine examination and carefully monitor her body.
2. White discharge. If white discharge is not associated with pregnancy or lactation, then most often they are a sign of a disorder called galactorrhea, or spontaneous milk flow with excessive production of prolactin. In addition to hormonal disorders, other causes of this phenomenon include ovarian and pituitary tumors, renal failure, and abortion.
3. Yellow discharge. Liquid of a yellow tint is released from the breast with galactorrhea and other diseases listed above, but if it has a greenish color and resembles pus, then it is most likely an inflammatory process - mastitis, abscess, ectasia of the milk ducts.
4. Bloody issues. Fluid with impurities or blood clots is a warning sign that cannot be ignored. It usually appears after trauma to the chest, but may indicate the presence of intraductal papilloma or malignant tumor.

Discharge from the nipples is a common phenomenon among women, which should not be a reason for panic, but a reason for careful monitoring of your well-being and consultation with a specialist.

The color and consistency of the discharge is an important criterion in making a diagnosis, so a woman must definitely tell the doctor about them.

Video on the topic

Discharge from the nipples of the mammary glands can be both in nulliparous, very young girls, and in women of age. In some cases, this may be the norm, in others, the appearance of fluid indicates a pathology that requires immediate treatment.

Discharge from the nipples - when not to worry

In any of the women, at a certain period of life, discharge of different colors and intensity may appear from the nipples. They are divided into physiological and pathological.

Physiological causes of discharge	Features:
Pregnancy	In the last months of pregnancy, a restructuring occurs in the mammary glands and throughout the body, preparing the woman's breasts for milk production. This leads to a periodic or constant appearance of fluid, such discharge is white or slightly yellowish in color.
Abortion	Especially often, discharge is noted in those women who had an abortion for a long time.
Post-lactation period	Arbitrarily or with pressure, fluid from the mammary gland leaves for several months, and sometimes for the first two years after the termination of breastfeeding.
Treatment with a range of medications	Transparent or whitish discharge can be caused by taking antidepressants, hormonal drugs.

Very often, healthy women of reproductive age record nipple discharge two to three days before the onset of menstruation. If they are transparent or white, then there is no need to worry.

Wearing tight bras, intense physical activity can provoke the appearance of fluid in the ducts of the mammary glands and, accordingly, their exit to the outside.

Trauma to the chest can also cause bleeding. A bruise leads to rupture of small capillaries, which provokes the appearance of bloody discharge for two to three days.

Discharge indicating pathology

Physiological discharge from the mammary gland when pressed should not cause any discomfort. They are light, transparent, liquid in color, odorless and streaked with blood. If the secret from the mammary glands is due to pregnancy, abortion, post-lactation period, then there is no reason for panic.

But women should always record all changes in the work of the mammary glands.

It is absolutely necessary to consult a doctor if the color of the transparent secretion changes, seals or pains appear in the mammary glands.

Discharge from the mammary glands that appears not always can be regarded as a variant of the norm. Sometimes the secretion of a secret indicates diseases, some of which are dangerous for their complications. Why fluid appears from the nipples, and what treatment is necessary can only be established by a doctor after a thorough examination. The following pathologies are described in which the discharge of fluid of a different nature from the nipples can be one of the main symptoms of the disease.

Mastitis

One of the most common breast lesions during lactation. It is an infectious lesion of the internal tissues of the mammary glands, which occurs when bacteria enter through cracks. The development of mastopathy is indicated by:

Discharge due to a purulent process in the mammary gland becomes green, they are quite thick in consistency. The disease is dangerous by the development of an internal abscess, for the elimination of which surgical intervention is required. In the early stages, treatment is carried out with antibiotics.

Ectasia

The term ectasia denotes a pathological expansion of the milk ducts, which occurs mainly in women in the climacteric period, that is, after 40 years. Deforming changes cause inflammation of the ducts, in connection with which discharge appears, they can be:

The secreted secretion is sticky, thick. A lump can be felt around the nipple. Ectasia is not considered a dangerous disease, but with one caveat - treatment must be carried out in a timely manner and it is necessary for a woman to prescribe tests that exclude a malignant lesion.

Fibrocystosis

Otherwise, the pathology is called fibrocystic mastopathy. It is characterized by the formation of fluid-filled cysts in the breast tissue. The main cause of mastopathy is hormonal disruption. Symptoms of pathology:

The shade of fluid from the nipples with mastopathy is often greenish or brown. Fibrocystosis is treated with therapeutic methods. With the development of the disease, constant monitoring is necessary, since there is a risk of its degeneration into a cancerous tumor.

An earlier examination will allow to establish pathological changes in time.

Galactorrhea

The term galactorrhea denotes an abundant secretion from the chest. The usual color of such secretions is whitish, but sometimes they can be yellow and brownish. Galactorrhea is a symptom that indicates a failure in the production of hormones in the body, leading to the production of excessive amounts of prolactin.

Galactorrhea is noted not only in women, fluid from the nipples with hormonal imbalance can be released in both men and children.

To cope with galactators, it is necessary first of all to establish the cause of the disruptions in the production of hormones. After a thorough diagnosis and diagnosis, appropriate treatment is selected.

Papilloma in the ducts

Papilloma in one of the milk ducts is formed most often in women over 35 years of age. The exact cause of the formation of intraductal papillomas has not been established. The characteristic symptoms of pathology are:

Intraductal papillomas are benign formations. Sometimes they become infected, as indicated by a change in the color of the secretion to green and yellowish, pain, swelling of the gland. Treatment at the initial stage is hormonal, if it is ineffective, the papilloma is surgically removed.

The release of various fluids and masses from the nipples can be the result of normal physiological processes, or indicate the development of certain pathological phenomena in the body.

That is why it is important to be able to accurately establish the cause of such a symptom, as well as to find out by the nature of the discharge, what exactly such an event says.

The first and most common reason for the appearance of discharge from the mammary glands is the natural process of a woman's life cycle -. The fluid that begins to flow out due to structural changes in the breast, called colostrum, is an intermediate link between lymph and milk.

Did you know? Small white pimples located on the nipple halo are called Montgomery glands. Scientists are still arguing about their functional purpose. According to the most popular theory, the liquid from them is designed to lubricate the nipple halo.

The process of hormonal changes in a woman's body can lead to the appearance of nipple discharge at different stages of pregnancy, starting from the very first, at any time during its course and even after its end, when colostrum begins to be released instead of milk or with it.

This phenomenon is primarily due to the restructuring of the glandular tissue of the mammary gland under the influence of huge doses.

It is necessary to understand that after a woman has had an abortion, her body needs some time to restore the usual hormonal levels.

Therefore, for some time after its commission, and before it, some discharge from the mammary glands is also possible. Usually, for a complete cessation of all such manifestations, if they occur at all, 1-2 months are enough.

Sometimes it happens that due to the peculiarities of the endocrine system, the woman's body too actively secretes hormones during. Prolactin is one of these hormones. Because of this, the breast during these periods can increase in size and begin to secrete fluid.

It is performed using a special ultrasound machine with narrowly targeted sensors with separation ability and parameters designed to analyze various structures that do not exceed the density of the pectoralis major muscle. This makes it possible to distinguish well in the image areas of tumor and inflammatory processes from healthy tissue.

Patients with inflammatory processes of the breast and physiological discharge are eliminated after visiting a mammologist, since most of them are well diagnosed during an external examination and a thorough clarification of the circumstances of the onset and course of the disease in the process of talking with the patient.
Mammography Before visiting a mammologist, it will not be superfluous to compile a small list of information about your problem in advance, which would answer the following questions:

1. What is the color of the discharge from the nipple?
2. What is the regularity of this process?
3. Is the discharge coming from one breast or from both?
4. Is it flowing from a specific area of \u200b\u200bthe nipple, or from the entire nipple at once?
5. Do they flow out on their own, or only after the use of physical effort?
6. Are there any other symptoms (absolutely any) that would cause you discomfort?
7. Have you ever had a chest injury?
8. Are you taking any medications on an ongoing basis?

If the doctor suspects any serious pathology, such as oncology or galactorrhea associated with endocrine disorders, the patient is sent for further examination. The first diagnostic method for a patient who supposedly has these pathologies is a thorough analysis of the hormonal background.
It is important to assess all endocrinological parameters, including levels of sex hormones, releasing factors, thyroid and adrenal hormones, since it is not known for certain which of the parts of the endocrine system could cause these disorders.

After that, if such a need arises, the patient is sent to the last stage of diagnosis - a biopsy, which helps to establish the nature and degree of development of oncological pathology.

Important! A massage can often help clear excess milk and pus from the breast. However, it must be remembered that it must be performed by a qualified technician and, in some cases, under local anesthesia.

In order to cure the inflammatory processes of the breast, various antibacterial agents are often used, the exact selection of which depends on the nature of the flora that caused them. As a symptomatic therapy, various warm compresses, antipyretics, and local anesthetics are used.
In especially advanced cases, punctures of large abscesses are also used to treat these pathologies., as a result of which there is a pumping of pus from the cavities in the chest, and if this does not help, they carry out surgical operations, the essence of which boils down to making radian incisions on the chest, finding especially large abscesses and abscesses and draining them.

All pathology associated with problems in the work of the endocrinological apparatus is reduced to the elimination of these problems.

For example, if galactorrhea is associated with a pituitary tumor, due to which too much prolactin is synthesized, then the pituitary gland is surgically or medically affected so that the tumor shrinks or disappears altogether. Ultimately, this leads to a resolution of the problem with nipple discharge.

As for oncological pathology, it all depends on many factors: the stage of the tumor, its malignancy, involvement of regional lymph nodes in the process, etc.

Traditional methods of treating this pathology are associated with the use of various highly toxic medications that kill the tumor, as well as various radioisotope and surgical techniques aimed at eliminating or reducing the size of the tumor.

To prevent the appearance of discharge of a very different nature from the chest, the following methods include:

• scrupulous and careful passage of all prescribed medical preventive examinations (especially important for women after 45-50 years);
• regular (once every 1-1.5 months) examinations by a mammologist;
• following the rules of personal hygiene;
• following the rules of breastfeeding;
• try to expose your nipples to UV rays as little as possible, including in a tanning bed;
• regularly check your hormonal spectrum, especially if you are prone to various pathological changes;
• protect your chest from various kinds of injuries, including stupid and everyday ones;
• do not take oral contraceptives.

So, we hope that this article helped you find out everything you want about the appearance of various types of discharge from the nipples. Remember that only qualified doctors will be able to correctly diagnose and treat you, so do not hesitate to contact them if you have the slightest need. Be healthy!

From time to time, each person is faced with various disorders of health. But not all of them require immediate consultation with a doctor and may well be eliminated at home. However, there are symptoms that in no case should be ignored, even if they are not accompanied by severe malaise. This also applies to the condition of the mammary gland in women, because violations of its structure, pain on palpation, hardening and discharge can be symptoms of a serious illness. The topic of our conversation today will be white discharge from the mammary glands when pressed, we will discuss the possible causes of this phenomenon.

Norm variant

It should be noted right away that in some cases, the appearance of white discharge from the chest in response to pressure is a completely natural symptom that does not pose a threat to health. This applies to pregnant women and those who have become a mother. During pregnancy, the discharge may be whitish and taste sweet. This is colostrum, it is released when the body of the expectant mother begins to prepare for the upcoming breastfeeding. In some cases, such a symptom appears shortly after conception, when a woman is not yet aware of her interesting situation. But most often, this kind of discharge begins from the fourth month of pregnancy, or even closer to its end.

Sometimes, at a period of about three months of pregnancy, a woman may experience the release of a white fluid, in which bloody streaks are visible. This symptom is due to the synthesis of special hormones necessary for lactation. But when it appears, it is imperative to consult a gynecologist and mammologist.

Of course, the release of breast milk is also considered a variant of the norm - soon after childbirth. Sometimes this phenomenon is observed even after the completion of breastfeeding. Normally, breast milk can be released from the breast with pressure for several months after weaning the baby. If the areola is not stimulated, this symptom will go away on its own.

In some cases, perfectly healthy nulliparous girls may have white discharge from the mammary glands when pressed. This symptom usually occurs before menstruation, is not very pronounced, and is explained by the activity of the hormonal system. But when it appears, you should definitely consult a gynecologist and mammologist.

Pathological causes of white discharge from the mammary glands when pressed

Sometimes the appearance of white discharge from the breast (in the absence of pregnancy) is classified by doctors as galactorrhea. This condition may be accompanied by the appearance of a small amount of discharge, less often milk production is more significant. Galactorrhea can be unilateral or occur in both breasts. This symptom usually occurs in patients of childbearing age, and is diagnosed quite often.

Galactorrhea can be triggered by many factors, represented by diseases of the hypothalamus, tumors and other diseases of the pituitary gland, disorders of thyroid hormone metabolism. In addition, it can be caused by estrogen-producing tumor formations in the adrenal glands or polycystic ovary syndrome. In some cases, galactorrhea develops against the background of hepatic and renal failure, as a result of other metabolic disorders, or as a result of taking a number of medications, for example, oral contraceptives.

What to do?

If you find any incomprehensible discharge from the mammary glands that occurs with pressure or appears on their own, consult a doctor. You should not leave such a symptom unattended, because it can be caused by a variety of diseases, including quite serious ones.

To clarify the diagnosis, you may need to undergo a number of laboratory tests:

Ultrasound of the mammary glands;
- mammography;
- blood test for hormones;
- cytology of the discharge.

The studies carried out will help the doctor make the correct diagnosis and choose treatment measures.

How is galactorrhea treated?

Therapy for such a disorder is selected by the doctor and directly depends on the factor that caused the appearance of white discharge from the mammary gland.
So in the event that galactorrhea has developed due to a pituitary adenoma, therapy begins with the use of dopamine agonists. These substances work in conjunction with natural dopamine to help suppress the production of prolactin by the pituitary gland. Such drugs are represented by Bromocriptine, Pergolide and Cabergoline.

It is worth noting that galactorrhea therapy is usually carried out in cases where a woman wishes to become pregnant. Also, such an ailment requires treatment with a pronounced form of osteoporosis or with especially abundant secretions that cause discomfort to the patient. In certain cases, women with such a diagnosis are shown only observation, which includes repeated examinations for the level of prolactin, as well as an MRI of the brain.

Do not run yellow discharge from the mammary glands or green discharge from the mammary glands. Visit the doctor immediately when they appear!

The fluid from the mammary glands is released not only during gestation or lactation, but also in a non-pregnant woman. The discharge that appears when pressed can be of a different color, odor, consistency, and have an admixture of blood clots. Usually these are signs of a serious illness, and only a mammologist after examination is able to diagnose the cause of a specific pathology, taking into account the nature of these secretions.

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Discharge from the breast

A specific secret can be released from the nipple of a woman's breast when pressed. Discharge is considered normal:

• before menstruation;
• during pregnancy;
• during lactation;
• some time after feeding the baby;
• when taking antidepressants;
• during puberty;
• strong hormonal medications;

The release of any consistency from the canals of the mammary gland is considered normal if the liquid has a white or transparent tint and a small volume.

Types of discharge

By the color of the discharge, the doctor can easily determine the disease that is the cause of the disease:

• White. Appear after taking contraceptives and with a pituitary tumor.
• Green. The dark green color is given by pus, which is secreted during mastitis.
• Brown. They occur when a cyst or tumor forms in the mammary gland. A dark liquid is released when it enters the milk ducts of the blood, when the capillaries are damaged.
• Transparent. If appear before menstruation, then this is the norm.
• Yellow. A yellow discharge with a cream shade (colostrum) is released after childbirth in the first days. If a yellowish tint appears before menstruation and is accompanied by pain, then mastopathy can be assumed.
• Purulent. Appear with the development of an abscess inside the ducts, are observed with mastitis. Dangerous are bloody discharge. They often indicate a malignant neoplasm.
• Blood. This is a sign of the development of a malignant neoplasm or damage to the blood vessels.
• Black. Observed during the decay of a malignant neoplasm.

The amount of fluid produced may be small or ample when breast pads are needed.




Do not squeeze out liquid from the nipples. This will only intensify the selection.



Diagnostics

The appearance of discharge that is not associated with feeding is always a danger and a reason to visit a gynecologist or mammologist. After visual examination and palpation, additional diagnostics will be assigned to determine an accurate diagnosis:

• mammography;
• cytological laboratory research;
• biochemical and general blood test;
• ductography (X-ray with contrast agent).



Examination of the mammary glands with a mammography

The following symptoms indicate pathology:

• the glands increase unevenly in volume;
• the substrate is produced in only one gland;
• the skin of the breast is very pale or slightly red;
• heterogeneity (tuberosity) of the glands;
• general malaise, increased body temperature.



The reasons

The reasons for discharge from the mammary glands are often associated with many diseases, but the predominant ones are:

• failure of hormonal levels (excess of estrogen);
• chest injury;
• purulent inflammation (abscess);
• galactorrhea;
• ectasia;
• the appearance of a cyst in the mammary gland;
• paget's disease;
• intraductal papilloma;
• fibrocystic breast disease;
• mastitis.

In some women, discharge from the milk ducts is found during menstruation or 2-3 days before menstruation. This does not apply to deviations. The release of milk in late pregnancy is a sign that a woman's body is preparing to feed her unborn baby. The glands, increasing and swelling, begin to secrete a transparent white liquid (colostrum).




After the end of lactation and the restoration of the menstrual cycle, fluid is released for several more weeks, but this phenomenon is most often normal.

Discharge during sexual arousal and stimulation of the nipples is acceptable, because the milk ducts are contracted. They are transparent, odorless and no more than 2-3 drops in volume.

Pathology treatment

Allocation is not a disease, but only a symptom of it. It is necessary to find out the reason that caused the symptoms of a particular disease in order to choose a therapeutic treatment regimen. It may be conservative, but prompt opening of purulent cavities is not excluded:

• Ectasia of the lactiferous ducts is treated with compresses, and antibiotics are prescribed for infection. In special cases, surgical treatment is indicated.
• Mastitis and abscess can be cured with antibiotics or by opening up purulent cavities.
• Intraductal papilloma (benign formation) develops in the milk duct near the nipple. Treatment consists of prompt removal of the affected area.
• Treatment for galactorrhea involves eliminating the underlying cause of the disease.
• Therapy of discharge from the breast with mastopathy is conservative and symptomatic.
• In Paget's disease, the affected mammary gland is removed with a further course of chemotherapy.
• Hormonal disruption for a woman's body has serious consequences. A blood test for the study of sex hormones is required. For treatment, hormonal drugs are prescribed.
• For chest trauma after mammological examination, anti-inflammatory medications are prescribed.

Until the complete cessation of discharge from the breast, you must strictly follow the rules of hygiene.

Prevention

For the prevention of breast diseases it is necessary:

• regularly independently perform glandular palpation;
• be examined by a mammologist every two years, and after 45 years - annually;
• oral contraceptives should be selected only by a specialist;
• get rid of addictions;
• reduce excess weight;
• avoid mental trauma and stress.

You should not resort to folk methods, warm up the chest with heat compresses. This will only aggravate the development of the inflammatory process in the tissues of the glands. With self-medication, you can lose time and start the disease. Therapy should be prescribed and monitored by a physician.