Nipple discharge - abnormal

Alternative Names:

Discharge from breasts; Milk secretions; Lactation - abnormal; Witches milk; Galactorrhea
Home Care:

Follow provider-prescribed therapy.

Call your health care provider if:

If there is any abnormal nipple discharge, call your health care provider.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.

Medical history questions documenting a nipple discharge in detail may include:

Are you pregnant?
Are you breast-feeding?
What type of drainage is there?
- Does it look like milk (even though you are not breast-feeding)?
- Does it look bloody?
- Does it look like pus?
Is the drainage from both breasts?
How much drainage is there?
- Enough to stain the lining of the bra?
- Enough to soak through the bra?
- Does the discharge occur spontaneously, or only when expressed?
Do you perform breast self-examination? How often?
What medications do you take?
What other symptoms are also present? Especially, is there:
- fever
- a breast lump
- breast pain
- headaches or change in vision

The physical examination will include examination of the breasts for lumps or other abnormality.

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:

breast biopsy (if lump is found)
cytologic study of discharge (a study of the cells in the discharge)
head CT scan to look for pituitary tumor
mammography
serum prolactin
transillumination (a light is placed against the breast to help determine if there is an accumulation of fluid in the tissue)
ultrasonography (ultrasound of the breast)