Nipple Discharge

Overview

When you are not breastfeeding or pregnant, fluid leaking from one or both nipples is called nipple discharge. It may or may not be a sign of a medical problem.

Two types of nipple discharge are:

• Nonspontaneous discharge. This occurs only when you press on your nipple. It is common and rarely means that there is a problem. The discharge can be clear, cloudy, white, yellow, green, or brown. The more the nipple is pressed or stimulated, the more fluid is discharged.
• Spontaneous discharge. This type of discharge occurs without pressing or stimulating the nipple. This is not normal unless you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Galactorrhea is one type of spontaneous nipple discharge. It may be a side effect of a medicine or caused by a noncancerous tumor in the pituitary gland (pituitary adenoma), decreased thyroid function (hypothyroidism), or certain types of cancer.

Call your doctor if you have spontaneous nipple discharge, a discharge from only one nipple (unilateral), or discharge that is bloody.