White discharge from nipples of pregnant women

During pregnancy, the estrogen in the body of pregnant women will rise rapidly, which will easily lead to some white secretions on the nipples of pregnant women. These white secretions will make pregnant women feel a little itchy in the nipples. In fact, this is quite normal, because the white secretions represent the milk of pregnant women, indicating that the mammary ducts of pregnant women have opened. So is it normal for pregnant women to have white secretions on their nipples?

What is the cause of white discharge from nipples during pregnancy?

1. Deposits in inverted nipples

The nipple is the place where the mammary ducts in the breast open and converge. Since it is composed of multiple mammary ducts, its surface is often uneven and granular. This causes the skin exfoliated cells produced during the normal metabolism of the human skin to be temporarily stored in the depression of the nipple. Combined with the sweating and oil secretion of the skin, they are mixed into a white secretion-like substance. It is recommended to rinse the nipples frequently with clean water to clean away the deposits in the depressions of the nipples.

2. Beware of breast cancer and breast hyperplasia

If the nipple is inverted and there is white secretion accompanied by an odor, consider high prolactin or breast hyperplasia. You should know that nipple discharge is an important breast symptom, of which 10% to 15% may be breast cancer. If symptoms occur, go to the hospital for treatment in time. You should go to the hospital immediately to check six female hormone levels and do a mammography x-ray to see if there is any possibility of serous breast cancer.

Near-infrared breast scanning can also be performed, and the positive diagnosis rate for ductal lesions in the areola area can reach 80% to 95%. In addition, selective lesion ductography is a commonly used examination method for nipple discharge. It has great value in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant nipple discharge. It can also provide physicians with accurate positioning of the surgical resection range.

Breast hyperplasia is a structural degenerative lesion of breast tissue ducts and lobules and progressive growth of connective tissue, and its main cause is endocrine hormone imbalance. In a small number of cases of breast hyperplasia that persists for a long time and does not heal, benign breast tumors or malignant lesions may occur. In very rare cases of simple lobular breast hyperplasia in adolescence, the disease can heal itself in about 2 years, but most patients need treatment. Don't endure it. Treatment should start with regulating endocrine. Adjustments can be made based on the hormone results, and Chinese medicine treatment can also be used as an aid.

Why do pregnant women have itchy nipples?

Itchy nipples during pregnancy may be caused by hormones during pregnancy

After pregnancy, the placenta and villi secrete a large amount of estrogen, progesterone, prolactin, etc., which will cause our breasts to enlarge, which is equivalent to the regrowth of the breasts. During pregnancy, the nipples may enlarge, the subcutaneous veins of the breasts may become obvious, the color of the nipples and areolas may deepen, the nipples may become more prominent, small nodules may appear around the nipples, and the breasts may even feel tingling, swelling, and itching. Occasionally, a small amount of milk may be squeezed out. These are all phenomena caused by pregnancy.

Affected by progesterone, the breasts begin to enlarge and become more sensitive 4 to 6 weeks after pregnancy, and their total weight can increase to about 800 grams. The combined effects of increased weight and progesterone stretch the ligaments and fibrous tissue of the breasts, causing the breasts to tend to sag. Choose a special bra for protection. As the blood volume increases, some pregnant women may develop blue blood vein patterns on their breasts, which usually disappear naturally after delivery.

Itchy nipples during pregnancy may be prurigo gravidarum

Itchy nipples in pregnant women may be due to prurigo gestationis, which can be clinically divided into early-onset and late-onset types. Although the cause of prurigo gestationis is unknown, studies have shown that it may be related to endocrine disorders.

If a pregnant woman's nipples itch in the 3rd to 4th month of pregnancy, and bean-sized reddish or normal-colored papules appear around the nipples, and the itching is severe at night, it is very likely early-onset prurigo gestationis. If the pregnant woman's nipples itch in the last two months of pregnancy, especially within two weeks before delivery, and the itching is not only on the nipples but also in other parts of the body, then it is very likely that late-onset prurigo gestationis has occurred.