Types
Nipple discharge is not abnormal during pregnancy or breastfeeding. It can also related to fibrocystic changes or menstrual hormone changes.
The milky discharge from both breasts after stopping nursing can be seen up to two or three years.
A spontaneous bloody discharge from a single duct refers to a noncancerous tumor called papilloma.
Nipple discharge may be related to breast cancer if you have any of these symptoms:
- Only one breast is affected
- You have a lump in your breast
- Bloody discharge
- Discharge is persistent and spontaneous
- Discharge from a single duct only
- The discharge is spontaneous and persistent
- The discharge affects only a single duct
The common causes of nipple discharge are listed below:
- Abscess
- Due to birth control pills
- Breast cancer
- Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
- Endocrine disorders
- Over breast stimulation
- Fibrocystic breasts
- Galactorrhea
- Injury or trauma to the breast
- Intraductal papilloma
- Mammary duct ectasia
- Mastitis
- Use of certain medicines
- Menstrual cycle hormone changes
- Periductal mastitis
- Pregnancy and breast-feeding
- Paget’s disease of the breast
- Prolactinoma
Symptoms
Bloody nipple discharge is never normal.
Blood in the nipple discharge is abnormal. Other abnormal signs are spontaneous discharge without touch, stimulation or irritation in your breast.
The color of the discharge is not useful in identifying whether nipple discharge is abnormal or not.