Content
- Causes of Breast Discharge
- Disease detection by discharge color
- Which doctor to contact for discharge
Pathological secretions include secretion of various colors and consistencies, which can be transparent, dark, sticky, with particles of blood. The discharge may be accompanied by pain, the formation of lumps, swelling of the nipples, an increase or change in the structure of the mammary glands.
Causes of Breast Discharge
Colostrum production during 9 months of pregnancy and after cessation of lactation is not a pathology. The norm is considered and minor transparent discharge before menstruation and at the time of excitation, which may be associated with the use of hormonal drugs.
Pathological causes of discharge from the mammary glands:
- galactorrhea caused by hormonal imbalance;
- milk duct ectasia;
- intraductal papilloma;
- mastopathy
- malignant neoplasms;
- chest trauma;
- breast inflammation;
- taking antidepressants, in particular, amitriptyline and similar medications.
Consider each cause of discharge from the mammary glands separately.
Galactorrhea – pathological discharge by the mammary glands of milk, colostrum when pressed, not associated with the process of feeding the baby. The disease can be caused by hormonal disorders, benign pituitary tumors, dysfunctions of the hypothalamus and thyroid gland..
Milk duct ectasia represents pathological changes in the milk channels of the breast. The disease can be recognized by seals in the chest area, a nipple that becomes retracted with thick, clammy, dark discharge. Usually older women are affected by ectasia..
Intraductal papilloma – A benign neoplasm that develops in the milk ducts, accompanied by abundant transparent, pink or greenish discharge. This disease is also observed in older women..
Mastopathy – benign disease of the mammary glands, characterized by proliferation of connective tissue. Mastopathy is accompanied by tenderness in the chest area and discharge from the nipples, which can be either transparent or bloody, brown and greenish purulent.
Chest injury accompanied by pain and bloody, profuse or spotting, which becomes yellowish as it heals.
Malignant neoplasms (breast cancer) – usually the cancer proceeds over the years without any signs, and at some point it can report itself as a seal in the mammary glands, an increase in lymph nodes in the armpits, skin erosion, violation of the symmetry of the mammary glands and secretions from transparent to bloody even purulent.
Disease detection by discharge color
As a rule, transparent, white and yellow discharge does not always indicate the development of a pathological process. At the same time, green, brown, with blood impurities are a sign of a serious illness, which will cause an urgent medical examination.
Transparent highlight – if the discharge proceeds without any changes in the mammary glands, then the phenomenon can be caused by stress, hormonal imbalance, taking hormonal contraceptives.
White discharge – during pregnancy and in the first months after the cessation of lactation are considered normal. In other cases, the appearance of white secretion when pressed indicates galactorrhea, caused by increased production of estrogen and an increase in the hormone prolactin. Sometimes discharge can be associated with pathological changes in the pituitary and hypothalamus, thyroid dysfunction.
Yellow discharge – are not a sign of a dangerous disease, but it is definitely worth examining. Also, light milky yellow secretion may be one of the signs of pregnancy..
Green highlight – This is a clear sign of mastopathy. The consistency of discharge is thick and mucous. Necessarily accompanied by seals in the mammary glands and tenderness in the chest area.
Brown discharge – can be caused by bleeding in the milk ducts, as well as the development of mastopathy and malignant tumors. As a rule, dark and in some cases black color is caused by the presence of blood.
Bloody issues – One of the most serious, which can talk about the development of a malignant tumor or intraductal papilloma. Also, strong or smeared blood-red discharge may appear due to chest injury..
Purulent discharge – caused by inflammatory and infectious processes in the chest. There is a temperature, pain, redness of the skin in the nipple, swelling and swelling of the chest.
Which doctor to contact for discharge
If secretions are detected, regardless of color and consistency, you must undergo a medical examination by a gynecologist. After the examination, the doctor will send for further examination, which may include the following diagnostics:
- examination by a mammologist;
- mammography;
- analysis of blood and fluid secreted from the chest;
- Ultrasound of the mammary glands;
- ductogram or breast MRI.
Regardless of the color of the discharge from the mammary glands and the absence of soreness, you should not postpone the visit to the doctor. Any changes in the mammary glands can be a sign of a serious illness..
