It’s also possible that the patient’s breast tissues are highly sensitive to prolactin. That means even if they have normal blood levels of prolactin, they still produce milk.
4. It doesn’t just happen to women
Although galactorrhea most commonly occur in women (even those who haven’t had a baby yet or are already in menopause), men can also experience it. In men, it is often accompanied by enlarged breast and testosterone deficiency.
On top of that, babies can also develop temporary galactorrhea. Usually, it’s due to maternal estrogen that crosses the placenta. The hormone can enlarge the baby’s chest and cause milky nipple discharge. The good news is it typically resolves without treatment.
5. Milky nipple discharge can happen with other symptoms
The primary sign of galactorrhea syndrome is milky discharge from the nipples. The discharge may be clear, yellowish, or white in color and can occur frequently or infrequently. Depending on the underlying cause, the patient may also experience the following:
- Vaginal dryness
- Headache
- Amenorrhea
- Low libido
- Erectile dysfunction
- Acne
- New hair growing on chest or breast
6. Treatment depends on the cause
If your doctor suspects that you have galactorrhea syndrome, they may perform some tests to determine the cause of your condition. They will decide on your treatment based on the cause of your galactorrhea and its associated symptoms:
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