Nipple discharge. Discharge from the breast during early and late pregnancy

The development of female breasts begins during puberty and is closely related to the ratio of hormones such as estrogens, progesterone and prolactin. Milk production begins in the ducts and lobules of the mammary gland during pregnancy. Each nipple has holes through which it comes out. If discharge of a different type appears from the mammary glands, then special attention must be paid to this. Often this phenomenon is a sign of a serious illness. The color and smell of the released liquid matters. A mammologist will help determine the cause of the discharge.

The fluid appears spontaneously or when the nipple is squeezed. This depends on the individual structural features of the mammary glands of each woman. The discharge may occur in one gland or both. Their consistency can be thick or watery. Colored discharge with an unpleasant odor requires special attention.

When nipple discharge is normal

The norm is the appearance of colostrum in the breast during pregnancy (transparent yellowish discharge that occurs when pressure is applied to the nipple). Colostrum sometimes appears even in the very early stages of pregnancy, when the woman is not yet aware of its onset.

After childbirth, milk is produced in the breast. Lactation continues throughout the entire feeding period and for some time after its end. Milk production stops gradually. If its release from the glands occurs when pressing on the nipple for several months (and even 2-3 years) after breastfeeding is completed, this is also normal.

Often milk appears after an abortion or miscarriage. This is explained by the natural hormonal changes that occur in the condition of the breast during pregnancy. After the hormonal levels are normalized, the discharge disappears.

Addition: Sometimes scanty transparent discharge appears in women on the eve of menstruation when pressing on the nipple. These may be normal hormonal changes characteristic of this phase of the cycle, and various diseases. It is necessary to visit a mammologist to make sure there are no pathologies.

The appearance of clear liquid when pressing on the nipple also occurs in women taking hormonal medications or antidepressants. Sometimes discharge appears due to irritation of the nipples by a tight bra or during physical activity associated with chest tension.

Normal discharge is clear or milky white and odorless. If discharge appears mixed with blood, pus, with any color or unpleasant odor, this indicates the presence of pathology. In addition, such discharge is often accompanied by changes in the condition of the breasts and a deterioration in the woman’s well-being.

Causes of pathology

The causes of pathological discharge from the mammary glands can be inflammatory and tumor processes, hormonal imbalance in the body, and diseases of the pelvic organs. Hormonal disorders occur as a result of the use of certain medications, oral contraceptives, frequent abortions, and diseases of the endocrine system.

Video: Causes of nipple discharge in women

Diseases that cause nipple discharge

Unusual discharge may appear due to the following diseases:

Mastitis is inflammation of the breast tissue. The inflammatory process occurs as a result of bacterial infection entering the gland. This can happen during breastfeeding if cracks form on the nipples, as well as with galactorrhea (lactation not associated with breastfeeding).
Intraductal papilloma. With this disease, growths form inside the milk duct, which are easily damaged when pressure is applied to the corresponding area of the breast. At the same time, bloody fluid is released from the nipples.
Ectasia (dilation) of the milk ducts. This condition is not always a pathology. It occurs, for example, when breasts swell during pregnancy or before menstruation. However, in some cases the process is irreversible. Stretching of the walls of the thoracic ducts leads to the formation of cysts filled with fluid, as well as papillomas. Usually, irreversible enlargement is the result of hormonal changes that occur in the body of women after 40-45 years.
Mastopathy. There are different varieties of this disease. All of them are associated with the proliferation of gland tissue. The main symptoms of this pathology are nagging pain in the chest and the appearance of fluid from the nipples, which has a different color and consistency.
Galactorrhea. The disease is expressed in the fact that when pressure is applied, milk appears from the nipple, and the process has nothing to do with breastfeeding. The main causes of the disease are hormonal disorders and increased levels of prolactin in the blood. Galactorrhea can occur with diseases of the thyroid gland and pituitary gland.
Breast cancer. When discharge from the mammary glands appears, a woman notices asymmetry of the nipples, an enlargement of one of the glands, deformation of the skin, the appearance of compactions and other signs that require urgent diagnosis and treatment.

Liquid of different colors and consistency may be a concomitant sign of diseases of the pelvic organs caused by microflora disorders (thrush, intestinal dysbiosis). Discharge from the nipples occurs with ovarian diseases (chronic inflammation, polycystic disease, malignant tumor). After injuries, inflammatory processes occur in the chest, which lead to the appearance of purulent discharge from the nipple.

Types of discharge from the mammary glands

Based on the color and consistency of the discharge that appears from the mammary glands when pressed, the doctor can guess what disease caused its formation.

Transparent, colorless and odorless. They are mostly of normal physiological origin if they appear before menstruation or with mechanical stimulation of the nipples.

White. These include milk produced after childbirth and during galactorrhea. Appear with tumors of the pituitary gland, after long-term use of birth control pills.

Green. The color is given by the pus that forms during mastitis.

Yellow with cream tint discharge occurs during pregnancy and in the first days after childbirth (colostrum). If they occur a few days before menstruation and are accompanied by chest pain, this may be a sign of mastopathy.

Brown. They occur if small vessels are damaged and blood enters the ducts. Such discharge appears during the formation of cysts, as well as breast tumors.

Bloody. May be a sign of cancer growth, compression and damage to blood vessels in the duct area. The color can be both light and dark.

What to do if there is discharge from the nipples

If unusual discharge from the nipples appears, then waiting or self-medicating with folk remedies is dangerous. Under no circumstances should you use heat compresses or warm your breasts in other ways. This will only worsen the inflammatory processes in the tissues.

Do not squeeze liquid from the nipples, as this stimulates increased discharge.

You can take hormonal medications only as prescribed by a doctor. If a woman resorts to hormonal contraception, she should consult a doctor about changing the contraceptive.

To find out the cause of the pathology and prescribe treatment, you need to visit a mammologist and undergo an examination.

Diagnosis of diseases

Before the examination, the doctor finds out how long ago the discharge appeared, whether it is formed constantly or periodically, whether the woman has pain, whether there have been injuries to the chest, whether the woman has used hormonal drugs.

The diagnosis is established by palpation of the mammary gland, ultrasound, mammography, ductography (X-ray using a contrast agent injected into the ducts). The most accurate results are obtained when examined 2-3 days after the end of menstruation. In the second phase of the cycle, breast swelling occurs, which causes errors in the results.

If oncology is suspected, a puncture is performed (sampling of fluids or tissues from the affected area of the gland). The contents are examined under a microscope to detect atypical cells.

Video: Diagnosis of breast diseases

Prevention of breast diseases

For the purpose of prevention, every woman should be examined by a mammologist once a year. It is also recommended to regularly conduct preventive gynecological examinations and promptly treat diseases of the endocrine system.

Breast self-examination plays an important role, which should be performed once a month. It allows you to detect lumps and external changes in the condition of the mammary glands at an early stage.

It is necessary to avoid hypothermia and chest injuries, stress, and uncontrolled use of medications.

Video: How to do a breast self-examination

Olga Smirnova (gynecologist, State Medical University, 2010)

Women's mammary glands are very vulnerable to various diseases. While some disorders are caused by age, others occur even in young girls. Discharge from the breast is one of the first signals of the development of pathology. Knowing the characteristics of normal and dangerous fluid from the nipples, as well as the causes of discharge, a woman will be able to pay attention to her health in time and begin treatment under the supervision of a doctor.

When a sign does not indicate pathology

Non-hazardous discharge appears for the following reasons:

specific monthly cycle period();
increased arousal during sexual intercourse (orgasm);
carrying a child (the body is preparing for lactation);
lactation;
habituation of the glands after weaning the child;
period of puberty (in adolescents).

The appearance of a liquid substance from the nipples is not typical for every woman. Has a great influence:

age;
number of pregnancies;
hormonal status;
heredity;
general health.

The appearance of clear discharge from the mammary glands often causes:

strong pressure on areolas or breasts;
hormone therapy;
taking contraceptives;
wearing an inappropriate bra;
physical stress;
hospital procedures (ductography, mammography, etc.);
treatment with antidepressants;
decreased blood pressure;
recent medical, surgical or spontaneous abortion.

But the secreted liquid should not have a characteristic color, odor or cause pain. Doctors recommend seeking advice if the situation persists and the volume of secretion increases.

How does discharge occur?

While carrying a fetus, a woman notices a gradual increase in her bust due to the high production of the hormone prolactin, which causes increased generation of glandular tissue.

There is a discharge similar to colostrum just before childbirth, but it is possible that a yellowish or white liquid appears in the second trimester. After the baby is born, it takes several days for milk synthesis to begin.

The following signs may indicate pathology:

production of fluid from one breast (left, right);
breasts grow unevenly in volume;
a feeling of heterogeneity (lumpy) of the bust;
very pale or reddened skin of the chest;
discharge provokes unpleasant sensations (general weakness, high temperature).

Such symptoms indicate that the woman urgently needs to go to the hospital and get tested. The doctor will be able to identify the failure in time and prevent problems with bearing the fetus.

After lactation

The non-dairy nature of fluid from the nipples after a woman has stopped breastfeeding is characterized by the following characteristics:

The first months. The appearance of milk is allowed, the production of which should disappear on its own after 2-3 months. It is advisable to gradually wean the baby from breastfeeding.
One year later. Some women may experience fluid from their nipples for up to a year. In some cases, the doctor prescribes special medications (Bromocriptine, Parlodel, Dostinex).

There is no need to panic if fluid comes out when you press on your nipples after feeding. For some time, prolactin is produced in large quantities, so the appearance of white discharge from the nipples will be noted until the body gradually returns to prenatal normal.

Short-term hormonal changes

Discharge from the mammary glands when pressed is often a consequence of taking birth control pills or treatment with hormonal drugs.

The body will get used to the new state within the first three months. If during this time the situation does not stabilize, then you should consult your doctor about changing pills or stopping therapy.

We can talk about the end of the adaptation period if only a small amount of clear liquid is released from the nipples.

Why does pathology occur?

In normal health, a woman can see fluid from her breasts if she presses on her nipples. Their stimulation leads to the production of oxytocin, and it is this hormone that provokes the contraction of the milk ducts and the appearance of one or two drops from the nipples.:

The causes of discharge from the mammary glands when pressed are often associated with various pathologies
chest injury;
hormonal imbalances;
galactorrhea;
inflammatory process;
intraductal papilloma;
breast cyst;
ectasia;
fibrocystic disease (mastopathy);
malignant tumors;
nipple cancer;
abscess;

mastitis.

Hormonal imbalances

The endocrine glands are responsible for regulating hormonal balance. Therefore, discharge from the mammary gland is observed when the normal functioning of the thyroid gland and pituitary gland is disrupted, when the content of prolactin increases in the blood.

A high level of the hormone responsible for lactation is observed against the background of thyroid dysfunction and pituitary adenoma. Due to these diseases, the fluid from the nipples resembles milk and does not contain blood clots or pigments.

The appearance of white or clear discharge from the breast, associated with endocrine diseases, is often accompanied by unstable periods. In some women, without timely treatment, monthly menstruation disappears completely.

The condition of the endocrine system can be aggravated by:
bad habits (cigarettes, alcohol);
systematic viral diseases;
lack of sleep;
poor nutrition;
harmful environmental conditions;
high fatigue;

hormonal drugs.

This disease causes a condition in which the release of fluid from the mammary gland is not preceded by a period of lactation. The appearance of milk or colostrum in a non-pregnant or lactating woman is most often associated with endocrine disorders, but other reasons cannot be excluded:

problems with the central nervous system;
hyperprolactinemia;
malignant tumor of the pituitary gland;
disruption of hormone production by the adrenal glands;
tumors in the adrenal glands;
hypothalamic dysfunction;
problems with the ovaries;
abuse of herbal medicines and drugs.

The doctor selects treatment for galactorrhea based on the results of diagnostics of the brain, thyroid gland and other prescribed tests.

Mechanical damage

Injury to the breast without damage to the skin is characterized by the appearance of bloody discharge from the mammary gland and pain in the affected area. Damage is caused by a blow to the steering wheel of a car, a push in a crowd, sharp compression, and bruises.

Unpleasant symptoms, including copious or spotting fluid with blood from the nipple, are observed for two days and then should disappear. If the situation does not improve, the woman should go to a medical facility for examination.

Serious injury often provokes an abscess, against which a subcutaneous accumulation of pus occurs. But do not confuse purulent clots with yellow discharge, which indicate gradual, complete healing.

Mastitis or abscess

These diseases are often confused with each other due to similar symptoms and factors of occurrence, but there is a difference:

Mastitis. An inflammatory process in the female breast without clear localization.
Abscess. Accumulation of pus in the mammary gland, limited to the capsule.

Infection can occur in the following ways:

damage to the nipple after feeding the baby;
infection during injury.

Inflammation also provokes:

milk stagnation;
bust hypothermia.

It is not difficult to detect the basic sign of pathology. It is quite easy to press on the nipples one at a time, after which a certain amount of yellowish or greenish discharge with pus will come out from the breast.

In addition to purulent discharge from the chest, the following symptoms may appear:

increase in gland volume;
redness of the skin;
a sharp increase in body temperature;
pain in the bust area;
fatigue.

In the initial stage of the disease, antibiotic-based therapy may be sufficient, but severely advanced cases are the reason for surgical opening of the milk ducts and subsequent removal of accumulations of pus.

Mastopathy

Most often, it is distinguished by the appearance of yellow discharge from the breast, which may acquire a cloudy tint. Also, sometimes patients experience green liquid, and in the most advanced cases, dark discharge from the mammary glands cannot be ruled out.

Additional symptoms:

bust swelling;
painful sensations;
problems with hormones.

Ectasia

The expansion of the milk ducts is a consequence when the channels, for various reasons, were able to secrete a large amount of thick liquid. If the disease is accompanied by an inflammatory process, then the girl may notice a small amount of green discharge from the mammary glands when pressed.

After forty years, the expansion of the milk ducts is characterized by bloody, brown and black discharge from the mammary glands.

Breast papilloma

This neoplasm is benign in nature and liquid of the most varied colors can stand out against its background. Formed between the juice itself and the beginning of the milk duct. An important symptom is the appearance of thick, bloody discharge from the chest with a dark or brownish tint, often with piles of pus.

Cancer

With malignant tumors, discharge from the nipples rarely occurs. There may be light, pink, clear, greenish, yellow and bloody drops from the nipples. Diagnosing cancer by fluid is very difficult, because red and yellow discharge from the mammary glands when pressed is also characterized by other less dangerous pathologies.

Associated symptoms:

inverted nipple;
bust deformation;
presence of seals;
enlarged lymph nodes;
pain when pressed.

The occurrence of red, gray, yellowish and green discharge from the mammary glands should be taken seriously, but without unnecessary worries. Sometimes even a banal thrush against the background of dysbacteriosis causes liquid mucus from the nipple. Doctors advise systematically conducting self-examinations, visiting a mammologist annually for prevention, and assessing fluid from the breast only against the background of pathological symptoms of a specific disease.

Every woman should regularly conduct self-examination of the mammary glands in order to notice the first signs of disease in time. If suddenly some trouble is noticed in the chest: strange nodules are felt, the symmetry and size of the glands is disturbed, pain appears, this is probably some kind of disease. You cannot ignore such a sign as discharge from the nipples. The reasons are not necessarily dangerous, but they are unlikely to be harmless either. Only an examination will help establish an accurate diagnosis.

Content:

What kind of discharge can appear from the nipples

The main function of the mammary glands is to produce milk after childbirth. It is carried through the milk ducts to the nipple. During pregnancy, colostrum, a clear, viscous, yellowish liquid, may be released. During the first 2-3 days of life, until real milk appears, the child is saturated with this nutritious fluid.

An abnormal discharge of milk from the nipples is not associated with the postpartum feeding period. Discharges that have a green, brown, or red tint, a watery consistency, and that last for a long time are also considered unusual. Along with other symptoms, such anomalies in women of any age and physiological condition may indicate serious health problems.

Video: Causes and types of nipple discharge, examination methods

Causes of unusual discharge

One of the reasons for the appearance of clear discharge from the nipples, sometimes even mixed with blood, may be a chest bruise. If there was an injury, then their appearance should not be alarming; it is not a symptom of the disease, but is caused by damage to the blood vessels. However, most often, discharge of different colors is a pathology. Hormonal disorders and inflammatory processes are the main causes of such symptoms.

Mastopathy. It is caused by hormonal disorders. With this disease, benign growth of the connective tissue of the mammary gland occurs, the formation of cystic cavities, and inflammatory processes occur. Yellowish discharge from the nipples and aching chest pain appear.

Ectasia of the milk ducts. Often occurs during menopause. Against the background of hormonal changes and decreased immunity, a violation of the patency of the milk ducts and their inflammation occurs. At the same time, green or black liquid accumulates in them, released from the nipples. Sometimes the cause of the anomaly is age-related changes in the structure of the ducts, but in some cases, ectasia occurs due to compression by the tumor, so mandatory examination is required.

Galactorrhea- a disease manifested in the release of milk from the nipples in the absence of breastfeeding or pregnancy. It is caused by an increased level of prolactin in the blood. Hormonal disorders occur due to diseases of the thyroid gland, the formation of a pituitary tumor (prolactinoma), and also when using hormonal contraceptives.

Intraductal papilloma. The cause is an imbalance of hormones, so the disease is provoked by any processes in the body that disrupt their production (endocrine pathologies, ovarian dysfunction, abortion).

Addition: The disease can occur due to incorrectly selected hormonal contraceptives. The risk of the disease increases in smokers and women who have experienced severe stress.

The disease is benign. Papillomas (growths) form inside the milk ducts; when pressed, a discharge mixed with blood appears.

Mastitis- inflammation of the milk ducts, which most often occurs in nursing women due to poor milk flow, infection through cracks in the nipples, and weakened immunity. Sometimes it occurs regardless of breastfeeding. Pus appears in the ducts. Discharge from the nipples has a yellow-green tint, there is severe pain in the mammary gland, and an increase in body temperature.

Breast cancer. When pressing on the chest, discharge appears in the form of blood clots. The shape, size and color of the skin of the affected mammary gland changes.

The cause of abnormal discharge is often diseases of the uterus and appendages.

Examination to determine the cause of discharge

For any changes in the condition of the mammary glands, especially if there is discharge from the nipples, you must immediately visit a mammologist and undergo an examination. Sometimes, even with a visual examination, the doctor can assume the presence of pathology. First of all, mammography and ultrasound are done to detect tumor diseases of the mammary glands.

If necessary, a biopsy is performed, for which samples of tissue and fluid are taken from the milk ducts using a special device. This allows you to determine what deviations there are and what problem they are dealing with.

Using laboratory tests, the presence of the following pathologies is established:

inflammatory processes (using a general blood test for leukocytes, a biochemical blood test for protein - a marker of inflammation);
endocrine disorders (blood test for hormones);
genital infections (PCR - DNA analysis of infectious agents);
breast cancer (general and biochemical blood test for tumor markers; spectral analysis - detection of cancer cells using the infrared spectrum of blood serum; genetic blood test to determine gene mutations and predisposition to breast cancer).

If there is a suspicion of a pituitary tumor, an MRI examination is performed.

Treatment for abnormal discharge

Depending on the diagnosis, treatment is carried out using a conservative method or through surgical intervention. As a rule, if it is possible to eliminate the cause that caused the appearance of discharge from the nipples, then it disappears.

Recommendation: If any disease of the mammary glands has been detected, then even after complete recovery there remains a risk of its recurrence. Therefore, it is recommended to do a mammogram or ultrasound at least once a year, as well as conduct an independent examination, paying attention to the slightest changes in the condition of the glands.

For conservative treatment, antibacterial and hormonal drugs are prescribed. If the disease cannot be eliminated, then surgical methods of partial removal of the affected areas are used (sectoral resection of the mammary gland, partial removal of the thyroid gland, and others). If necessary, a complete removal of the tumor (ovaries, pituitary gland) or organ (breast cancer, for example) is performed.

Advice: You should not resort to traditional methods if it is unknown why discharge appeared from the nipples. Treatment should be completely supervised by a physician. By self-medicating, you can waste time and trigger the disease.

The female body is a complex system, whose functioning can easily pose a question to which it is difficult to give an unambiguously correct answer. One of the least studied pathologies in women is discharge from the breasts when pressed.

The Koshechka.ru website will tell you what problems may arise in this regard.

Causes of breast discharge

The first thing I want to do is reassure women who are in the lactation period - discharge from the breast when pressed is a completely normal phenomenon both during pregnancy and, of course, during the feeding period.

Breast discharge in a pregnant woman or woman who has recently given birth is a natural occurrence.

For some, discharge begins only after childbirth, during the period of active feeding, but more often - in the fifth or sixth month of pregnancy, and the color of the liquid varies from yellow to white, and the consistency from thick to watery. One-time occurrences of bloody discharge from the chest are considered normal during this period, however, if they do not stop for a long time, you should consult a doctor.

If you have not yet become a mother or have experienced breastfeeding for a long time, listen to your body - the appearance of discharge of varying consistency indicates a deviation from the normal functioning of the body.

In the ducts located in the mammary glands, there is always a small amount of fluid, which sometimes comes out in the form of transparent secretions, especially when pressing on the breast. However, if the volume of excretion has increased significantly, pay special attention to this. The reasons for the increase in the volume of secreted fluid may be:

taking potent medications - antidepressants or hormonal medications;
hormonal imbalances;
nervous and physical stress;
exposure to great force on the chest - blows, bruises, in rare cases - mammography;
wearing inappropriate (tight) underwear.

A one-time release of a secret is not a big deal. It may have an unpleasant odor, a cloudy, mucus-like consistency, and a greenish-yellowish color. If the discharge repeats, we can talk about significant deviations in the condition of the female body.

A more precise reason can be suggested by a doctor during a full examination and tests.

Discharge from the breast when pressed: a disease or normal?

The most common types of breast discharge are:

White discharge from the breast. If, when pressed, a milky, yellow or brownish liquid is released in relatively small quantities, then it’s okay - this is considered completely normal. However, if such discharge began in a non-lactating, non-pregnant woman, or more than five months have passed since the lactation period, this indicates the appearance of a disease such as galactorrhea. It is caused by an excess of prolactin in the body, the hormone responsible for milk production.

Some of the possible causes of white discharge from the breast when pressing may include injuries and dysfunction of the hypothalamus, injuries to the nipples and milk ducts, pituitary tumors, kidney failure, ovarian diseases and much more.

Whitish creamy thick discharge from the breast when pressed, if it appears in small quantities, can be caused by reasons such as the use of a condom during sexual intercourse.
Bloody issues. Such discharge can appear either independently or after pressing directly on the nipple or mammary gland. Bloody discharge may indicate a chest injury or the occurrence of intraductal papilloma, a benign tumor that requires immediate diagnosis and treatment.
Purulent discharge. They occur in advanced forms of a disease such as an abscess.
Brown discharge from the chest, manifested by pressure, may be signs of diseases caused by infections. If there are also blood particles in this fluid, it means that the disease has been advanced.
Clear discharge from the breast Large volumes of discharge released when pressure is applied may be the result of trauma to the breast or breast tumor.

The website warns: the above classification and symptoms are only approximate, the most common. However, there are many exceptions that require diagnosis. For example, discharge from the breasts that occurs in postmenopausal women (50-55 years old) indicates possible pathological abnormalities. Sometimes the appearance of various types of discharge only heralds the onset of menopause.

It is worth noting that any discharge from the chest that is a deviation from the norm requires immediate identification of the causes of its occurrence. To maintain your own health, we must not forget about prevention:

be examined by a gynecologist at least twice a year;
after 40 years, do a mammogram (every year);
do not forget to regularly palpate your breasts yourself for lumps and inflammations;
If discharge appears, do not delay visiting a doctor.

Every woman should think about her own health and not neglect diseases in the female part, because timely treatment is the key to a quick recovery.

Ivanova Alexandra - especially for Koshechka.ru - a site for those in love... with themselves!

A woman may discover discharge from the mammary glands by accident. They appear when pressed and can leave barely noticeable stains on the laundry.

If a woman is not feeding the baby at this time or has not had to give birth at all, you should definitely be wary. Discharge is not necessarily associated with pathology, but the breast is very vulnerable and it is necessary to check its health.

Physiological causes of discharge

Like most phenomena, discharge from the chest when pressed can occur for the following reasons:

physiological;
pathological.

Physiological features explain the discharge:

During pregnancy. In the female breast, preparations take place for the birth of a baby and its feeding. The glands are trained to produce milk and remove it. Similar processes occur in the third and final trimester. Increased uterine tone stimulates the secretion of cloudy white or yellowish fluid from both mammary glands.
Some time after finishing feeding. Discharge may continue for the next two or three years. It depends on the woman’s age and the number of pregnancies she has had.
After an abortion. The presence of discharge and its duration are determined by the period at which the artificial termination of pregnancy occurred. They can bother a woman from several days to a month.
When using contraceptives. Oral contraceptives contain hormones that stimulate lactation. The discharge should disappear after discontinuation of contraceptives. They should be replaced with another type. But it is wise to do this only on the recommendation of a doctor.

The release of a small amount of clear fluid is possible during treatment with hormonal drugs or the use of antidepressants. The cause could be a too-tight bra or physical overload.

Pathological causes of breast discharge

The main reasons for discharge are:

Ductectasia- a disease characterized by pathological dilation of ducts called subareolar canals. The disease is typical for women after 40, since its main cause is age-related changes. The disease does not pose a health hazard, but only if treated in a timely manner. Otherwise, serious consequences cannot be ruled out.
Chest injury(blows, bruises). If this happens without violating the integrity of the skin, then within two days the bloody fluid can be easily squeezed out of the nipple.
Intraductal papilloma– papillary benign tumor. It appears in the duct near the nipple. Due to the development of the tumor, a thick fluid is released, which sometimes contains blood impurities.
Mastitis and abscess. Ailments either occur during lactation, or are a consequence of penetration of an infected object. With mastitis, the area of the gland becomes inflamed. The cause is a bacterial infection, in most cases Staphylococcus aureus. With an abscess, pus accumulates in the breast tissue, the affected area is limited from the healthy area.
Galactorrhea– discharge of milk or colostrum from the nipples, not associated with breastfeeding. The most common cause is an increase in the blood hormone prolactin (hyperprolactinemia) or an increase in estrogen levels.
Fibrocystic mastopathy– the appearance of compacted areas of tissue in the mammary gland. The condition is dangerous because it can develop into cancer.
Malignant neoplasm (breast cancer)– a tumor that forms unnoticed due to uncontrolled cell division. Discharge appears when pressure is applied from both mammary glands or only from one.
Paget's disease– a malignant tumor that has engulfed the nipple or isola. The disease is extremely dangerous and requires prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Discharge from the breast may be caused by diseases of the genitourinary organs:

vaginitis;
cystitis;
syphilis.

Sometimes pathological changes in the pituitary gland and hypothalamus, malfunctions of the thyroid gland can also be responsible for secretion from the mammary glands.

Whatever the cause of the discharge, it should be determined as quickly as possible.

Discharge color and reasons

The discharge that emerges from the mammary glands when pressed differs in color and consistency.

If they transparent or have a white or yellow color, most likely the reason lies in a physiological imbalance.

But the secretion with blood impurities, brown or green is a harbinger of a serious illness.

Minor transparent discharge is the result of:

stress;
hormonal imbalances;
taking contraceptives (containing hormones).

White discharge is a frequent and safe presence during pregnancy and for several years after stopping breastfeeding. They can also accompany galactorrhea caused by excessive production of prolactin and estrogens.

Discharge from the breast light milky yellow secretion often accompanies pregnancy. Possibly after a bruise or more serious external injury to the mammary glands. In this case, yellowish discharge indicates that the healing process is going well.

With mastopathy, secretion appears Green colour, thick and slimy in consistency.

Brown discharge occur with bleeding in the milk ducts. Damage to blood vessels occurs due to the growth of a malignant neoplasm or cystic mastopathy. The dark to black color is formed due to the presence of blood.

Bloody issues the most serious because they appear with the development of a tumor or papilloma. But sometimes they are present after injury to the mammary glands.

Purulent discharge is observed when inflammatory and infectious processes occur in the chest.

How to diagnose pathology

When a woman discovers that discharge appears when pressing on her breasts, she should make an appointment with a mammologist. The doctor will direct her to undergo:

mammography;
Ultrasound of the mammary glands;
galactography (a type of mammography) - an x-ray examination of the milk ducts, which involves the introduction of a contrast agent into them.

Also prescribed:

blood test for prolactin, sex and thyroid hormones;
cytological examination of breast discharge.

Summarizing the results will help the doctor determine the diagnosis and further treatment actions.

Treating the Causes of Breast Discharge

Timely treatment will contribute to positive results. Depending on the diagnosis, it can be conservative, but surgical intervention is not excluded.

Pathologies such as mastitis and abscess are cured with antibiotics and opening purulent cavities.

Ductectasia will require surgery. In its process, the affected duct in the mammary gland is removed.

Surgical intervention is also necessary if intraductal papilloma is detected. The affected area of skin should be removed. The removed particles are subjected to histological examination to exclude the malignant nature of the papilloma.

In Paget's disease, a mastectomy is prescribed - removal of the affected mammary gland. Next, chemotherapy sessions are prescribed.

Having discovered discharge from the mammary glands when pressing, there is no need to fall into a panic state. There are many circumstances that led to this phenomenon.

Regardless of the color and smell of the secretion, or whether other unpleasant symptoms are observed, you should immediately consult a doctor. After conducting the necessary tests, he will select individual therapy. Surgery cannot be ruled out.