Symptoms and treatment of Galactorrhea

Description

Galactorrhea (guh-missing-toe-REE-uh) is a milky nipple discharge that is not linked to the production of milk for breastfeeding. Galactorrhea is not a disease. But it can be a sign of an underlying condition.

Galactorrhea occurs mainly in people assigned female at birth. It can happen even to those who have not had children or who have gone through menopause. But galactorrhea may also occur in persons assigned male at birth and even babies.

Too much within the handling of the medication side effects or the conditions of the pituitary gland can be added to the galactorrhea. Often, the higher levels of the hormone involved in the production of breast milk, called prolactin, cause galactorrhea.

Sometimes, the cause of galactorrhea can't be found. The condition can resolve on its own.

Symptoms

The symptoms linked to the galactorrhea include:

Milky discharge from the nipple that is constant or comes and goes.
The nipple discharge of more of a milk duct.
Nipple discharge that is filtered by its own account or when the breast is touched.
Nipple discharge from one or both breasts.
Irregular or no menstrual periods.
Headaches, or problems with vision.

When to see a doctor

If one or both breasts keep leak milky discharge, and is not pregnant or breastfeeding, make an appointment to see your health care professional.

If the stimulation of the breast, such as the management of the nipple during sex, the causes of nipple discharge of more than a conduit, there is no reason to worry. The download of the majority of the time does not mean that there is a problem. And the download often goes away on its own.

If you are still having discharge that doesn't go away, make an appointment with your health care professional.

Nipple discharge that is not milky needs immediate medical attention. If the download is in the blood, or clear, and comes from a duct or there's a lump can be felt, it can be a sign of breast cancer.

Causes

Galactorrhea is often the result of having too much of the hormone that causes milk when you have a baby. This is the so-called prolactin. Your pituitary gland, a small bean-shaped gland at the base of the brain involved with several hormones, causes prolactin.

Possible causes of galactorrhea include:

Medications, such as certain sedatives, antidepressants, antipsychotics and high blood pressure medications.
Consumption of opiates.
Herbal supplements, such as fennel, anise or fenugreek seeds.
Birth control pills.
A benign tumor of the pituitary gland called prolactinoma, or other condition of the pituitary gland.
Underactive thyroid, also called hypothyroidism.
Long-term kidney disease.
Too much manipulation of the breast. This can be linked with sexual activity, having a self-examination of breasts with the nipple from the handling or long-term rubbing of the clothes.
Damage to the nerves of the chest wall of the chest surgery, burns or other wounds in the chest.
The spinal cord of the surgery, injury, or tumors.
Stress.

Idiopathic galactorrhea

Sometimes health professionals cannot find a cause of galactorrhea. This is called idiopathic galactorrhea. This may mean that the breast tissue is very sensitive to the milk of the hormone prolactin. If it is so, then even the typical levels of prolactin can cause galactorrhea.

Galactorrhea in men

In persons assigned male at birth, galactorrhea may be associated with a very low amount of the hormone testosterone. Called male hypogonadism, this most often also causes the sinuses are inflamed or sensitive, which is called gynecomastia. Not being able to get and maintain an erection, called erectile dysfunction, and not wanting to have sex are also linked with very little testosterone.

Risk factors

Anything that triggers the release of the hormone prolactin can increase the risk of galactorrhea. The risk factors include:

Certain medications, illicit drugs, and herbal supplements.
Conditions that affect the pituitary gland, such as pituitary tumors that are not cancer.
Certain medical conditions, such as long-term kidney disease, spinal cord injury, the injury of the chest wall and low activity of the thyroid gland.
A lot of touching and rubbing of her breasts.
Stress.

Diagnosis

It can be difficult to find the cause of galactorrhea, because there are many possible reasons for this.

Tests may include:

A physical exam. A health professional may try to get a little bit of fluid from the nipple by gently squeezing the area around the nipple. This examination may include looking for lumps in the breast or in other areas of thickening of the breast tissue.
A blood test. This is to check the level of prolactin in your system. If your prolactin level is high, your health care professional can check the thyroid-stimulating hormone, also.
A pregnancy test. This is to rule out pregnancy as a cause of nipple discharge.
Diagnostic mammography, ultrasound, or both. You can have these imaging tests if your healthcare provider finds a lump in the breast or go to the other breast or nipple changes during the physical examination.
Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. This is to detect a tumor or another area of your pituitary gland, if the blood test shows a high level of prolactin.

Treatment

When necessary, galactorrhea, the goal of treatment is to resolve the underlying cause.

Sometimes health care professionals may not find an exact cause of galactorrhea. Then you can have a treatment if your discharge from the nipple that bothers you. A drug that blocks the effects of prolactin or low your body, prolactin levels could help you to get rid of galactorrhea.

Lifestyle and home remedies

Often, milky discharge associated with idiopathic galactorrhea is going to go away on its own account. This is most likely if you do not handle your breasts a lot or when taking medications that are known to cause nipple discharge.

To decrease the stimulation of the breast:

Try not to overdo it to touch the nipples during sexual activity.
Avoid squeezing, pinching, or otherwise, to the management of their nipples.

Preparing for your appointment

It is likely to start by seeing your primary health care provider or gynecologist. But you may be sent to a breast health specialist in your place.

What you can do

To prepare for your appointment:

Take note of all your symptoms, even if it doesn't seem linked to the reason why you made the appointment.
Review key personal information, including major stresses or recent life changes.
Make a list of all the medicines, vitamins, and supplements you take, including how much to take and when to take them.
Write questions to ask their health professional.

To galactorrhea, possible questions are:

What is likely causing my symptoms?
There are other possible causes?
What tests might I need?
What treatment approach do you suggest for me?
Are there any at-home treatments I could try?

What to expect from your doctor

Your health care professional may ask you questions, such as:

What color is your discharge from the nipple?
What nipple discharge from one or both breasts?
Do you have other symptoms in the breasts, such as a lump or area of thickening?
Do you have pain in your breasts?
How often do breast self-exams?
Have you found any changes in their breasts?
Are you pregnant or breastfeeding?
Do you still have regular menstrual periods?
Are you having problems getting pregnant?
What medications do you take?
Do you have headaches or difficulty seeing?

What you can do in the meantime

Until his appointment, follow these tips on how to cope with unwanted nipple discharge:

Do not touch your breasts. This can help to alleviate the discharge from the nipple. For example, do not rub your nipples during sex. Don't wear clothing that rubs on his nipples.
The use of breast pads. Small pads of wear on the bra you can enjoy the discharge from the nipple and prevent it to seep through your clothing.