Watery discharge from breast not pregnant

What is nipple discharge?

It is possible to precise touch a fluid from the nipples of most girls no matter age. The fluid is usually milky, green, or brown. This is normal and not a sign of cancer. There are some specific types of nipple discharge that warrant closer evaluation:

  • Discharge that is bloody or clear-yellow, that occurs all by itself (e.g. it stains your clothes), and that comes from only one duct is considered a “pathologic” discharge that requires further assessment. This type of discharge is typically caused by a benign polyp during a large milk duct just deep to the nipple. When it occurs in older women it can be a sign of cancer.
  • Copious milky discharge from both nipples can be a sign of pregnancy, but it can also be caused by a benign tumor in the pituitary gland (prolactinoma).

For women who aren’t breastfeeding, the sight of nipple discharge is often alarming. But if you feel your nipple discharge, there’s no cause for panic. While nipple discharge is often serious, in most cases, it’s either normal or thanks to a minor condition.

Watery discharge from breast not pregnant

Still, if you’re not nursing, you ought to contact your health care provider any time you notice breast discharge. Based upon your symptoms and therefore the results of diagnostic tests, your doctor will choose the simplest course of treatment.

Types and symptoms

Nipple discharge comes in many different colors. The color can offer you some clues about the cause. The chart below lists the discharge colors and a few possible causes in women who aren’t lactating. You can learn more about these causes in the next section.

Color Possible cause                                    

Clean, dark, purple, or covered with pus, breast or nipple infection.

green cysts

brown or cheese-like mammary duct ectasia (blocked milk duct)

clear breast cancer, especially if it’s only coming from one breast

bloody papilloma or breast cancer

The discharge also can are available a couple of different textures. For example, it’s going to be thick, thin, or sticky.

The discharge might begin with only one nipple or both nipples. And it can leak on its own or only you squeeze the nipple.



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Some other symptoms you might have with nipple discharge include:

  • breast pain or tenderness
  • lump or swelling in the breast or around the nipple
  • nipple changes, like turning inward, dimpling, changing color, itching, or scaling
  • redness
  • breast size changes, such as one breast that’s larger or smaller than the other
  • fever
  • missed periods
  • nausea or vomiting
  • fatigue

Nipple discharge and breast cancer

Breast cancer can cause nipple discharge, especially ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), an early form of breast cancer that starts in the milk ducts. It can also happen with Paget’s disease of the breast, a rare type of breast cancer that involves the nipple.

Watery discharge from breast not pregnant



If you are doing have carcinoma, the discharge will probably only come from one breast. You may have a lump in your breast, too.

Watery discharge from breast not pregnant

Discharge is rarely due to cancer, however. One study found that only 9 percent trusted sources of women 50 years or older who saw a doctor for nipple discharge actually turn out to have breast cancer. It is still an honest idea to urge any breast discharge verified, especially if it’s a replacement symptom for you.

What is normal and what is abnormal nipple discharge?

Bloody nipple discharge is never normal. Other signs of abnormality include discharge of the nipple from only one breast and discharge which occurs spontaneously without touching, stimulating or disturbing the breast.

Watery discharge from breast not pregnant

Color isn’t usually helpful to choose if the discharge is normal or abnormal. Both abnormal and normal nipple discharge is often clear, yellow, white, or green in color.

Normal nipple discharge more commonly occurs in both nipples and is usually released when the nipples are compressed or squeezed. Some women who are concerned about breast secretions may very well cause it to worsen. They do this by repeatedly squeezing their nipples to see for nipple discharge. In these instances, leaving the nipples alone for a short time may help the condition to enhance.

Watery discharge from breast not pregnant

Your doctor will determine if your nipple discharge is normal (physiologic) or abnormal (pathologic), based on your medical assessment. Even if your doctor determines your breast discharge is abnormal, confine mind that the majority pathological conditions that cause nipple discharge aren’t serious and are easily treated.

Some causes of normal nipple discharge include:                                      

  • Pregnancy: Some females note clear breast discharge coming from their nipples in the early stages of pregnancy. In the later stages of pregnancy, this discharge may combat a watery, milky appearance.
  • Stopping breastfeeding. Even after you’ve got stopped nursing your baby, you’ll notice that a milk-like breast discharge persists for a short time.
  • Stimulation. Nipples may secrete a fluid when they are stimulated or squeezed. Normal nipple discharge can also occur when your nipples are repeatedly chafed by your bra or during a vigorous workout, like jogging.

What causes abnormal nipple discharge and may it’s noncancerous?  

Several noncancerous conditions can lead to the discharge of nipples.

If your initial medical evaluation indicates the discharge is abnormal, your doctor may invite more tests. The tests will help determine the underlying condition that’s causing the problem and may include one or more of the following:

  • Laboratory analysis of the discharge
  • Blood tests
  • Mammogram and/or ultrasound of one or both breasts
  • A brain scan
  • Surgical excision and analysis of one or more ducts in your nipple

Possible causes of abnormal discharge include:         

  • Fibrocystic breast changes. Fibrocystic refers to the presence or development of fibrous tissue and cysts. Fibrocystic changes in your breasts may cause lumps or thickenings in your breast tissue. But they don’t show cancer’s existence. Apart from causing pain and itching, fibrocystic breast changes may sometimes cause clear, white, yellow, or green nipple discharge to be secreted. Watery discharge from breast not pregnant
  • Galactorrhea. It might sound scary. But galactorrhea simply describes a condition during which a woman’s breast secretes milk or a milky nipple discharge albeit she isn’t breastfeeding. Galactorrhea is not a disease and has many possible causes. These include:

o Pituitary gland tumors

o Certain medications, including some hormones and psychotropic drugs

o Some herbs, such as anise and fennel

o Hypothyroidism

o Illegal drugs, including marijuana

  • Infection. Nipple discharge contains pus which indicates a breast infection. This is also known as mastitis. Mastitis is usually seen in women who are breastfeeding. But it can develop in women who aren’t lactating. If you’ve got an infection or abscess in your breast, you’ll also notice that your breast is sore, red, or consider the touch.
  • Mammary duct ectasia. This is the second commonest explanation for abnormal nipple discharge. Usually, it’s seen in women approaching menopause. This condition leads to inflammation and possible blockage of ducts located underneath the nipple. When this happens, an infection may develop that leads to thick, greenish nipple discharge.
  • Intraductal papilloma. These are noncancerous growths within the ducts of the breast. They are the foremost common reason women experience abnormal nipple discharge. When they become inflamed, intraductal papillomas may end in nipple discharge that contains blood or is sticky in texture.

How do I know when to see a breast specialist?         

Generally, any discharge that happens all by itself during a woman who isn’t pregnant should be evaluated by a breast specialist

Watery discharge from breast not pregnant



Nipple discharge is usually nothing to worry about. Still, because it is often a symbol of carcinoma, see your doctor to possess it verified. It’s especially important to see a doctor if:

  • you have a lump in your breast
  • you have nipple changes (such as crusting or color change)
  • you have pain in your breast or other symptoms of breast cancer
  • the discharge is bloody
  • only one breast is affected
  • the discharge doesn’t stop

Your doctor will start by asking questions about the discharge, including:

  • When did the discharge start?
  • Is it in one breast or both?
  • Does it come out on its own, or do you have to squeeze the nipple to produce it?
  • What other symptoms do you have?
  • What medications do you take?
  • Are you pregnant or breastfeeding?

The doctor will do a clinical exam to check your breasts for lumps or other signs of cancer. You may also have one or more of these tests:

  • Biopsy. The doctor removes a little sample of tissue from your breast to see it for cancer.
  • Mammogram. This test takes X-ray pictures of your breasts to help the doctor look for cancer.
  • Ductogram. This test uses mammography and an injected contrast medium to form pictures of the milk ducts inside your breasts. Watery discharge from breast not pregnant
  • Ultrasound. This test uses sound waves to form pictures of the within of your breasts.

Your doctor will also likely do a urine or blood test to find out whether you’re pregnant.

Once you recognize what’s causing the nipple discharge, you’ll treat it if necessary. Discharge that’s due to pregnancy, breastfeeding, or hormonal changes may not need to be treated. Your doctor may treat discharge from other causes that supported the condition. Watery discharge from breast not pregnant