Why is there still milk after one year of weaning?

Breast milk is the most direct way for babies to obtain nutrition. We all know that women will always have milk leaking during lactation, but many women still have milk even after weaning for a year. Although this is a common symptom, it is also a manifestation of disease. If we want to get better regulation, we must understand the reasons. Let’s understand why there is still milk one year after weaning.

Why is there still milk after one year of weaning?

1. Mammary duct ectasia: For some patients with this disease, the first early symptom is nipple discharge. The color of the discharge is mostly brown, and a few are bloody; laboratory examination of the discharge shows a large number of plasma cells and lymphocytes but no tumor cells. This disease is more common in non-lactating or menopausal women over 40 years old. There is a lump adhered to the skin in the areola area where discharge occurs, which is usually less than 3 cm in diameter. The axillary lymph nodes on the same side may be enlarged, soft, and tender. If infection occurs, the local area of ​​the lump will show signs of inflammation such as redness, swelling, heat and pain.

2. Intraductal papilloma: This disease is more common in people aged 40 to 50 years old. 75% of the tumors occur in the area near the nipple. The tumor is very small, has a pedicle and villous, and has many thin-walled blood vessels, so it is easy to bleed. Laboratory examination can find tumor cells in the discharge. Sometimes, when patients carefully palpate their breasts, they may find a cherry-sized lump under the areola that is soft, smooth and movable.

3. Breast cystic hyperplasia: more common in women of childbearing age. The nipple discharge of some patients is yellow-green, brown, bloody or colorless serous, and laboratory tests show no tumor cells in the discharge. This disease has two characteristics: one is the manifestation of periodic breast pain, which often occurs or worsens before menstruation. Mild cases are usually not noticed by patients, but severe cases can affect work and life. Second, breast lumps are often multiple and can be seen on one side or both sides. They can also be limited to one part of the breast or dispersed throughout the breast. The lumps are nodular and of varying sizes, tough but not hard, not adhered to the skin, and have unclear boundaries with surrounding tissues. The lumps may shrink after menstruation.

4. Breast cancer: Some breast cancer patients have bright red or dark red nipple discharge, and sometimes clear water discharge, which is colorless and transparent, occasionally sticky, and leaves no trace after the discharge. Cancer cells can be found in the discharge through laboratory tests. The two peak incidence periods of this disease are 45 to 49 years old and 60 to 64 years old. The onset is slow, and the patient may accidentally discover a breast lump, which is usually located at the upper inner or upper outer limit, is painless, and gradually grows larger. In the late stage of lesions, orange peel-like skin changes and satellite nodules appear. The axillary lymph nodes are enlarged and hard, and fuse into clumps as the disease progresses.

Also, please note:

1. Is the discharge true or false? A true discharge is fluid leaking from the milk ducts. Pseudodischarge is common in people with inverted nipples. It is caused by the accumulation of exfoliated cells of the nipple epidermis in the indentation, causing a small amount of liquid bean curd-like exudate, which often has a foul odor. Once the inverted nipple is pulled out and the area is kept clean, the "discharge" will disappear.

2. Is the discharge bilateral or unilateral? Bilateral discharge is physiological. For example, most women will still secrete a small amount of milk within one year after stopping breastfeeding. In the middle and late stages of pregnancy, some pregnant women can squeeze out a small amount of light-colored colostrum from their breasts. A small number of women may also experience short-term galactorrhea after an intense orgasm due to hyperemia of the breast blood vessels, breast swelling, and nipple erection. When women enter menopause, some of them will secrete a small amount of milk due to endocrine disorders. The above are all physiological conditions, not pathological conditions. However, bilateral nipple discharge can also be pathological, such as a disease called amenorrhea-galactorrhea syndrome, which is caused by pituitary microadenoma. In addition to galactorrhea, it is also accompanied by amenorrhea, headache, narrow visual field, and elevated prolactin in the blood. A CT scan of the brain can confirm the diagnosis. Another type of bilateral nipple discharge is seen in a small number of patients with breast hyperplasia.

3. Is the overflow from a single hole or multiple holes? The nipple has 15 to 20 milk duct openings. If overflow occurs, observe from which opening or openings the liquid overflows. Single-hole discharge is mostly caused by intraductal papilloma. Porous discharge may be physiological, drug-induced, benign systemic disease, or fibrocystic breast disease.

4. Does the overflow occur on its own or after squeezing? The former is mostly pathological, and about 13% of breast cancer patients have a history of spontaneous discharge. Benign or physiological discharge is most often caused by squeezing.

5. The nature of the discharge. Different breast diseases will result in different characteristics of discharge. Such as: (1) Milky. Most of them are physiological, such as in the immediate period after weaning or miscarriage, and are not a manifestation of cancer.

The above is an introduction to why there is still milk after one year of weaning. After understanding it, we know that this phenomenon is also a manifestation of a disease. Don’t always worry too much when such symptoms appear. Milk leakage does not necessarily mean that you have breast cancer. In addition, women should also pay attention to breast care after weaning, and go to the hospital for examination and treatment in time when necessary.