White discharge covering my nipples

Should I worry about breast discharge?

Question

My cup size is 32A. Over the past three years I occasionally get a white discharge covering my nipples. This builds up over a couple of weeks until it becomes easy to remove.

It is not painful, but is embarrassing because my boyfriend has recently noticed it. We are both concerned to find out if there is a problem and whether it could be restricting my breast size?

Answer

There are only two possible explanations - local or general.

It may simply be one of the glands in the breast producing a milk-like substance. The breast is designed to do this and this wouldn't be a disease.

The 'general' explanation is that you may have a hormonal disturbance. If your body has an imbalance of hormones - especially of a hormone called prolactin, it will cause this problem.

Often such a problem is not isolated - is there any disturbance of your periods? Specifically, are they regular and come once every 28 days?

At 17 your hormone system hasn't settled down, so you will experience further changes including in your breast size over the next three years or so.

It's obviously causing you some worry and distress, so I'd say it was worthwhile getting it checked out. See your GP and explain the problem to her. She might be able to do a simple blood test to clarify the problem.

Yours sincerely

Dr Bob Leckridge, GP

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