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OVERVIEW

What is galactorrhea?

Galactorrhea occurs when one or both breasts make milk or a milky discharge. It’s not related to milk production in breastfeeding. The breasts may leak only when touched or on their own. It can occur in women or in men but is less common in men.  

Galactorrhea is not a disease but can be a symptom of an underlying health problem.

SYMPTOMS

What are the symptoms of galactorrhea?

The main symptom of galactorrhea is a milky white discharge from one of both nipples. Sometimes the discharge is yellow or greenish in color).  Blood in the discharge is not a symptom. If you have blood in the breast discharge, you should contact your healthcare provider.

Other related symptoms may include:

• An absence of menstrual periods or periods that are not regular
• Headaches
• Vision loss
• Decrease sex drive
• Increase in hair growth on your chin or chest
• Erectile dysfunction

CAUSES & RISK FACTORS

What causes galactorrhea?

• There are many possible causes of galactorrhea. Someone who has it most likely has an underlying condition. Possible causes include:
• Pregnancy
• Oral contraceptives
• Over stimulation of the breasts, such as during sexual activity
• Doing very frequent breast self-exams (daily exams)
• Clothing that irritates the breasts (such as scratchy wool shirts or bras that don’t fit well)
• Pituitary tumors. Often these are located in the pituitary gland in the brain. Most tumors are benign, meaning not cancerous. Medicines such as hormones, antidepressants, blood pressure medicines and sedatives
• Herbal supplements such as nettle, fennel, blessed thistle, anise and fenugreek seed
• Drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and opiates
• Kidney disease
• An underactive thyroid (also called hypothyroidism), which is a gland that produces hormones
• Injury or trauma to your chest or spinal cord.

In some cases, the cause of galactorrhea is unknown.

DIAGNOSIS & TESTS

What tests might my healthcare provider order?

Your healthcare provider may do a physical exam and review your symptoms. They may ask about your health history and lifestyle, and what medicines you take. Your healthcare provider might order blood tests to check your hormone levels and to see if you are pregnant. Your healthcare provider might also want you to have an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan of your head to see if you have a tumor or abnormality of the pituitary gland.  Other tests that may be ordered are a mammogram and/or ultrasound.

PREVENTION

Can galactorrhea be prevented or avoided?

You can’t prevent galactorrhea. However, once you know the cause, you may be able to avoid it.

TREATMENT

How is galactorrhea treated?

Treatment depends on what is causing the galactorrhea. Benign tumors can be treated with medicine or surgery. Medicine can help if your body is producing too much of a hormone, such as prolactin. It also helps treat problems, such as hypothyroidism. If a certain medicine you are taking is causing your galactorrhea, your healthcare provider may prescribe a different medicine.

Living with galactorrhea

In many cases, no treatment is necessary, and the condition goes away on its own with time. Until it goes away, here are some things you can do to help:

• Avoid stimulating your breasts.
• Avoid touching your nipples during sexual activity.
• Don’t do breast self-exams more than one time a month.
• Avoid tight-fitting clothing or clothing that causes friction.
• Wear pads in your bra (women) to absorb the milky discharge.