Women, water flowing here is a sign of serious illness

When women are breastfeeding, and some women are pregnant or after miscarriage, liquid will flow out of the nipples due to milk secretion. This is a physiological phenomenon. However, if you are not in these periods, and your breasts leak fluid when squeezed or automatically, this is most likely due to breast disease.

4 major breast diseases behind nipple discharge

Mammary duct ectasia

Mammary duct ectasia, also known as plasma cell mastitis, is the most common non-bacterial inflammation in the non-lactating period. Nipple discharge is the main symptom of mammary duct ectasia.

The "water" that flows from the nipple due to mammary duct ectasia is mostly brown, and a few are bloody and purulent. Mammary duct ectasia is common in non-lactating or menopausal women over 40 years old. In addition to nipple discharge, during the acute stage of mammary duct ectasia, the skin in the areola area will also become red, swollen, hot, and tender; enlarged lymph nodes can be felt in the armpits and are tender; the whole body may experience chills and high fever.

Intraductal papilloma

Intraductal papilloma is more common in women aged 40-50 years old. It often occurs alone or in multiple cases in the dilated milk ducts near the nipple. The tumor is generally small, has abundant blood vessels, and is very easy to bleed.

The main clinical manifestation of intraductal papilloma is watery nipple discharge; the "water" is blood-colored. Intraductal papilloma is a small tumor that is often not palpable and is therefore often discovered as a result of nipple bleeding. Intraductal papilloma is a benign tumor, but it may become malignant in 6-8% of cases.

Breast hyperplasia

Breast hyperplasia is the most common breast disease. Some breast hyperplasia does not require special treatment, but some breast hyperplasia, especially cystic hyperplasia, requires standardized treatment.

A small number of patients with breast hyperplasia may experience nipple discharge, which is spontaneous. In a small number of patients, squeezing the nipple may reveal bloody discharge, milky white discharge, straw yellow or brown serous discharge.

Breast cancer

5% to 10% of breast cancer patients experience nipple discharge, but only 1% have nipple discharge as the only symptom.

Discharge from breast cancer can vary in type and may be bloody, serous, watery, or colorless. Breast cancer that originates in large ducts or has the morphology of intraductal carcinoma is more likely to be accompanied by nipple discharge. Malignant transformation of intraductal papilloma and eczematoid carcinoma of the nipple can also cause nipple discharge. It is worth noting that although most people believe that breast cancer is rarely accompanied by nipple discharge, and even if discharge occurs, it almost always occurs after or at the same time as a lump appears, and those without a lump are rarely considered to be cancer. However, recent studies have shown that nipple discharge is an early clinical manifestation of certain breast cancers, especially intraductal carcinoma, and can exist alone before a noticeable mass forms.

Medical Guide: It is important to describe the symptoms of nipple discharge in detail

When you are going to the hospital to check nipple discharge, you need to prepare a very detailed information for the doctor.

What color is the oozing fluid?

How much fluid leaked out?

Are both nipples leaking fluid? Or is there only one ooze?

Does the fluid come from one opening in the nipple, or from multiple openings?

Does the discharge occur spontaneously, or only when you squeeze your nipples?

Do you have other symptoms? For example, warmth, redness, or pain in your breasts, or headaches or vision changes?

Have you had any recent breast injury?

Have you taken any medicine?

Because some nipple discharge is physiological and does not mean that there is any disease. For example, the nipple has 15 to 20 milk duct openings. When nipple discharge occurs, it is necessary to observe from which opening or openings the "water" is leaking. Single-hole discharge is mostly caused by intraductal papilloma, while multi-hole discharge may be caused by physiological, drug-induced, systemic benign diseases or breast hyperplasia.

In short, nipple discharge is an important breast symptom. If symptoms occur, you should observe carefully and go to the hospital in time to take necessary examinations and treatment measures.

Nipple water discharge is not uncommon, and perhaps many people turn a blind eye to it, which is really playing with one's life. The phenomenon of water discharge from a woman's nipples should not be underestimated, as it is very likely a symptom of several serious diseases. Therefore, when female friends encounter this situation in life, please go to the hospital in time to seek help from a doctor.