Why is there water coming out of my breasts?

Some women find that watery substances flow out of their nipples when they are taking a bath or accidentally squeeze their nipples with their hands. Some are transparent, while others are bloody or brownish-yellow. These usually indicate breast disease. At this time, you must not be careless or take medicine on your own. You should seek medical attention as soon as possible to avoid delaying the disease. Let's take a look at what happens when water comes out of the breasts.

1. Concept

Nipple discharge is a common symptom of breast disease and can be divided into physiological discharge and pathological discharge. Physiological discharge refers to lactation during pregnancy and lactation, bilateral nipple discharge caused by oral contraceptives or sedatives, and unilateral or bilateral small amounts of discharge in postmenopausal women. Pathological discharge refers to intermittent or persistent nipple discharge from one or more ducts on one or both sides under non-physiological circumstances, lasting from months to years.

2. Causes

1. Intraductal papilloma

The tumor mostly occurs in the area near the nipple. The tumor is very small, has a pedicle and villi, and has many thin-walled blood vessels, so it is easy to bleed. When palpating the patient's breasts, sometimes a cherry-sized lump can be found under the areola, which is soft, smooth and movable.

2. Breast cystic hyperplasia

The nipple discharge of some patients is yellow-green, brown, bloody or colorless serous. This disease has two characteristics: one is that it manifests as periodic breast pain, which is more common or worsens before menstruation. Second, breast lumps are often multiple, 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.

3. Breast cancer

Some breast cancer patients have bright red or dark red nipple discharge, and sometimes clear water discharge that is colorless and transparent, occasionally sticky, and leaves no trace after discharge. Patients may accidentally discover a breast lump, which is usually located at the upper inner or 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 swollen and hard.

4. Diencephalic diseases or pituitary lesions, such as tumors of the diencephalon and its surrounding tissues, prolactin adenomas, pineal tumors, hyperpituitarism, acromegaly, etc.

5. Endocrine system diseases, such as primary hypothyroidism, adrenal tumor, etc.

6. Side effects of drugs, such as chlorpromazine, morphine, reserpine, and hormonal drugs such as birth control pills, can cause endocrine dysfunction in the human body, stimulate prolactin secretion, and lead to breast discharge.

7. Local stimulation of the breast and systemic stress response, such as frequent playing or sucking of nipples, severe mental trauma and other factors, can also lead to a transient increase in prolactin and cause breast discharge.

3. Diagnosis

1. Near-infrared breast scanning: This method has a positive diagnostic rate of 80% to 90% for discharge caused by duct diseases in the areola area.

2. Ultrasound examination: This method has an 80% to 90% diagnostic accuracy rate for the cause of benign breast diseases. Ultrasound examination can reveal enlarged milk ducts, very small cysts, and sometimes intraductal papilloma or filling defects.

3. Selective breast ductography has great diagnostic value for nipple discharge and benign and malignant breast diseases, especially for those with nipple discharge but no lumps or other signs on physical examination, or those with negative results in other examinations. Selective breast ductography can clarify the location, nature and extent of discharge before surgery.