![what to do if you have galactorrhea](https://images.medicinenet.com/images/article/main_image/what-does-chest-pain-on-the-left-side-above-a-female-breast-mean.jpg?output-quality=75)
Galactorrhea occurs when a milky or milk-like discharge leaks out of your nipples. If you are experiencing galactorrhea, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor. Your doctor will first try to find out what’s causing it and determine whether you have also been experiencing the following symptoms:
- Amenorrhea (skipping menstrual periods for 2 or more months)
- Vaginal dryness
- Headache
- Reduced sex drive
- New hair growth on the chest or chin
- Acne
- Erectile dysfunction (in men)
What causes galactorrhea?
Galactorrhea often results from excess production of prolactin, which is a hormone secreted by your pituitary gland. Your pituitary gland is located at the base of your brain, stimulating milk production in women. Other causes of galactorrhea include:
- Prolactinoma (a noncancerous pituitary tumor) or other disorders of the pituitary gland
- Hypothyroidism
- Chronic kidney disease
- Medications such as:
- Sedatives
- Antacids
- Antidepressants
- High blood pressure drugs
- Opioid use
- Birth control pills
- Excessive breast stimulation, which may be associated with:
- Sexual activity
- Frequent breast self-exams with nipple manipulation
- Prolonged clothing friction
- Spinal cord surgery, injury, or tumors
- Stress
- Testosterone deficiency (in men)
How is galactorrhea diagnosed?
Your doctor will perform a physical examination of your breast, pressing your nipples to look at the discharge and feeling for any lumps or hardness in your breast. They may also order tests including:
- Nipple discharge analysis (to see if fat is present)
- Blood tests to check for elevated prolactin level or thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level
- Pregnancy test
- Mammography or ultrasound of the breast
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain
How is galactorrhea treated?
In most cases, your doctor may recommend treatment depending on the underlying cause of the condition. Treatment may include:
- Discontinuing medications that may be causing galactorrhea as a side effect and prescribing an alternative medication in its place
- Prescribing medications that target prolactin production in your body such as:
- Levothyroxine for hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
- Bromocriptine
- Cabergoline
- Avoiding activities that may be causing galactorrhea such as:
- Repeatedly stimulating your breasts and nipples
- Conducting breast exams more often than once a month
- Wearing clothes that irritate the breasts through rubbing or chafing
- Treatments to shrink the pituitary tumor (if a pituitary tumor is the cause):
- Medications
- Surgery
- Radiation
Using breast pads (absorbent liners placed in the bra) can help absorb milk leakage.
![](https://images.medicinenet.com/images/quiz/human-body/human-body-s1.jpg)
QUESTION
What percentage of the human body is water? See AnswerHealth Solutions From Our Sponsors
Galactorrhea. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/galactorrhea/symptoms-causes/syc-20350431
Top What Do You Do If You Have Galactorrhea Related Articles
Breast Cancer Slides
Learn about breast cancer causes, symptoms, tests, recovery, and prevention. Discover the types of treatments such as surgery and drug therapies as well as the survival rate for breast cancer.Breast Cancer Quiz
This Breast Cancer Quiz features signs, symptoms, facts, causes, common forms, terms, risk factors, statistics, and more. Increase your awareness of breast cancer now!Breast Self-Exam
A woman can use a breast self-exam to check for changes, lumps, or thickenings, in her breasts. Any unusual changes should be reported to the doctor. A breast self-exam is one way to detect lumps that may be cancerous. Early detection and treatment of breast cancer greatly increases the likelihood for survival.Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
Chronic kidney disease (CKD), or chronic kidney failure, is slow and progressive loss of kidney function over several years. CKD is a long-term condition where the kidneys do not work effectively.Common Medical Abbreviations & Terms
Doctors, pharmacists, and other health-care professionals use abbreviations, acronyms, and other terminology for instructions and information in regard to a patient's health condition, prescription drugs they are to take, or medical procedures that have been ordered. There is no approved this list of common medical abbreviations, acronyms, and terminology used by doctors and other health- care professionals. You can use this list of medical abbreviations and acronyms written by our doctors the next time you can't understand what is on your prescription package, blood test results, or medical procedure orders. Examples include:
- ANED: Alive no evidence of disease. The patient arrived in the ER alive with no evidence of disease.
- ARF: Acute renal (kidney) failure
- cap: Capsule.
- CPAP: Continuous positive airway pressure. A treatment for sleep apnea.
- DJD: Degenerative joint disease. Another term for osteoarthritis.
- DM: Diabetes mellitus. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- HA: Headache
- IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease. A name for two disorders of the gastrointestinal (BI) tract, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
- JT: Joint
- N/V: Nausea or vomiting.
- p.o.: By mouth. From the Latin terminology per os.
- q.i.d.: Four times daily. As in taking a medicine four times daily.
- RA: Rheumatoid arthritis
- SOB: Shortness of breath.
- T: Temperature. Temperature is recorded as part of the physical examination. It is one of the "vital signs."
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is any state in which thyroid hormone production is below normal. Normally, the rate of thyroid hormone production is controlled by the brain by the pituitary gland. Hypothyroidism is a very common condition and the symptoms of hypothyroidism are often subtle but may include constipation, memory loss, hair loss, and depression. There are a variety of causes of hypothyroidism, and treatment depends on the cause.Hypothyroidism During Pregnancy
Hypothyroidism during pregnancy can be treated with synthetic thyroid hormones to maintain the proper thyroid hormone balance. Hypothyroidism symptoms and signs include fatigue, weight gain, lethargy, and constipation. Check out the center below for more medical references on pregnancy and hypothyroidism, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related disease conditions, treatment and diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.Pituitary Gland Picture
The main endocrine gland. See a picture of Pituitary Gland and learn more about the health topic.Prolactinoma (Pituitary Tumor)
Prolactinoma is an adenoma (benign tumor) of the pituitary gland. Causes of many prolactinomas are unknown. Symptoms in women include:- changes in menstruation and infertility,
- decreased libido, or
- painful intercourse due to vaginal dryness.
What Are Sore Nipples a Sign Of?
Most women encounter breast pain, fullness, or nipple pain at some point in their lives. Sore nipples are typically easy to treat, but sometimes, they can be a sign of something serious.What Effect Does Hypothyroidism Have On You?
What is hypothyroidism? Learn the signs of hypothyroidism, what causes hypothyroidism, and how hypothyroidism affects the body.