Patient's question:
Recently, while taking a shower, I noticed some white discharge from my nipples. It's in the small gaps between the nipples and doesn't flow out on its own. Sometimes, if I squeeze hard, a bit can come out. I've also been experiencing some breast tenderness lately, especially before my period when the pain gets worse.What kind of help do I need: What is the white discharge from my nipples?
Doctor's answer:
The cause of galactorrhea is the excessive secretion of prolactin in the body. The causes of hyperprolactinemia are complex and can be broadly categorized into physiological and pathological types. They can be systemic or localized. First, multiple consecutive miscarriages after childbirth can lead to elevated prolactin levels in the body; poor sleep and long-term use of sedatives or hypnotics; individuals with pulmonary or intestinal tuberculosis who take antitubercular drugs for a long time during treatment; married women who need long-term oral contraceptives due to discomfort with an intrauterine device; additionally, pituitary hyperfunction, pituitary microadenomas, hypothalamic disorders, and the use of antihypertensive medications. Physiologically, strong sexual stimulation can temporarily increase prolactin levels, which quickly return to normal. Duct ectasia of the breast can also cause a small amount of milky fluid discharge. Galactorrhea can occur in women with or without breast hyperplasia, accompanied by breast tenderness, due to endocrine disorders.