Grappling with Galactorrhea
You have had a milky discharge from your breasts for a couple of months now. The last time you nursed a baby was at least two years ago. You could have a condition known as galactorrhea.
Galactorrhea is the milky discharge coming from your breast. It is a very common problem that occurs in approximately 20 to 25 percent of women. Though both men and women can have this condition, women between the age of 20 to 35 who have previously given birth are at higher risk for developing galactorrhea.
Although the exact cause is poorly understood, in the vast majority of cases (about 85 percent) galactorrhea is of no clinical significance and is absolutely nothing to worry about.
Galactorrhea may develop in some women taking oral contraceptive pills, blood pressure medications and a variety of major tranquilizers and antidepressants. It has been reported in women with hypothyroidism (decreased thyroid function) and in those with shingles (herpes zoster). With hypothyroidism, your body will try to compensate by churning out more hormones. In doing so, it may trigger the release of more prolactin, possibly causing galactorrhea.
In addition to prescription medicines, marijuana and other street drugs can affect prolactin and cause galactorrhea. Several herbs and health store remedies can lead to galactorrhea. Also, the female hormones estrogen and progesterone may in rare cases lead to galactorrhea. If you are taking birth control pills, for example, that can be the cause.
Milky discharges occasionally may occur following a breast biopsy or in the remaining breast following mastectomy and may even be produced by manual stimulation while having sex.
In some cases, galactorrhea results from stimulation of the breast tissue by excessive blood levels of prolactin, a hormone produced by the pituitary gland at the base of the brain. Increased prolactin also may cause the absence of menstrual periods. The association of galactorrhea with absent or infrequent menstrual periods, headaches or blurred vision may indicate the presence of a tumor of the pituitary gland.
The pituitary gland can sometimes develop a very small tumor, known as a microadenoma. Even though they’re fractions of an inch in size, they can release large amounts of prolactin.
Small tumors of the pituitary gland usually aren’t serious health threats. In some cases, they disappear by themselves. In others, they respond well to medicines such as bromocriptine (Parlodel) that block the production of prolactin. Larger and persistent tumors may have to be removed surgically.
Besides the main causes of galactorrhea, there are a host of other possibilities, including stress, kidney failure and injury to the breast or chest wall. Even tight clothing can cause galactorrhea. For instance, a tight bra can stimulate the breasts.
If you have any symptoms, your doctor will order a blood test and probably an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan to detect any pituitary tumors.
Perhaps the most important blood test is the one that measures your prolactin level since it points to an issue with your pituitary gland. But a blood test to check thyroid function will also be ordered.
There are certain things you can do to avoid galactorrhea such as 1) monitor your pituitary gland 2) wear loose clothing to prevent over stimulation and 3) watch the medications you are taking.
It may vary how long galactorrhea may last depending on the cause. Once you begin treatment, symptoms should begin to subside. Galactorrhea often goes away without treatment. Avoiding things that cause galactorrhea is the best way to keep it from occurring. If a pituitary tumor is causing the condition, your health care provider may want you to undergo a CT or MRI scan once a year.
