I'm so embarrassed by my nipple discharge

White discharge covering my nipples

Question

I have the most embarrassing complaint. You are my only hope - I can't face speaking to my doctor because it is too disgusting.

My problem is that there is a discharge coming from my breasts. It was so bad last night that I woke up quite literally stuck to my partner's body.

The discharge is kind of whitish and has an unpleasant smell.

Answer

I don't think that you have a disgusting problem at all. As a doctor, I am used to dealing with all sorts of things that people find difficult to talk about.

We are all trained to manage all sorts of problems and I feel it is important that you are able to talk to a doctor about your symptoms.

I don't know how long you've had this problem for, but it sounds as if you are becoming increasingly bothered by it. Please, please see somebody so that they can examine you and get to the bottom of things.

One of the causes for your breast discharge may be a high level of prolactin, which is a hormone that women produce and which can result in the discharge of milk from the breasts.

The discharge due to this is not normally offensive, but if it became warm (as would occur if you were sleeping close to somebody) then it may not smell so good.

Prolactin is produced during pregnancy and after having a baby, but can also be produced as the result of a non-cancerous brain tumour.

It is because of rare, but not unheard of, causes of breast discharge like a brain tumour that I would urge you to seek further professional advice.

Medication can also affect women in this way, in particular an anti-stress medicine called thioridazine, to mention one example. Your GP will be able to tell you if medication could be the root of your problem.

I hope you get this sorted out soon.

Yours sincerely

The Medical Team

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