Friday, February, 10, 2012

Nipple discharge - abnormal

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

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


Call your health care provider if

Call your health care provider if you have any abnormal nipple discharge.


What to expect at your health care provider's office

The doctor will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your medical history and symptoms, including:

  • Are you pregnant?
  • Are you breastfeeding?
  • What color is the drainage?
  • Does it look like milk?
  • Is is bloody?
  • Does it look like pus?
  • Is the drainage from both breasts?
  • How much drainage is there? For example, does it stain or soak a bra or t-shirt?
  • Do you examine your breasts? How often?
  • What medications do you take?
  • What other symptoms do you have? For example, fever, menstrual cycle changes, a breast lump,breast pain, headaches, or vision changes?

Laboratory tests may be done to check prolactin and thyroid levels and to study the cells in the nipple discharge. Other tests that may be done include:

  • Breast biopsy (if a lump is found)
  • Head CT scan to look for pituitary tumor
  • Mammography
  • Transillumination
  • Ultrasound of the breast

Review Date: 05/26/2008
Reviewed By: Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine; Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Redmond, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)