Be wary of nipple discharge

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted with Doctor Phan Diem Doan Ngoc - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital.

1. Properties of nipple discharge

If you want to accurately diagnose the condition and cause of nipple discharge, it is necessary to base on the nature of the discharge, specifically:
Nipple discharge clear water: colorless transparent, sometimes sticky, It does not leave a mark after it oozes out. This discharge can be a signal of breast cancer, so follow up with further tests. Milky discharge: mostly physiological, related to pregnancy. However, if it is not related to pregnancy and breast milk production, you should be examined because this could be a sign of a brain tumor that secretes Prolactin - a hormone that causes lactation or some drugs that stimulate prolactin secretion. Purulent discharge: mostly due to ductal dilatation, mastitis. Pale yellow discharge from the nipples: the most common type of discharge, almost all of the abnormal mammary diseases, the most common is mammary gland hyperplasia. Also some are ductal tumors or breast cancer. The phenomenon of nipple discharge mixed with blood: This type of oozing fluid is a danger signal, requiring much vigilance, of which 50-70% are milk duct tumors, 15% are breast cancer. If a bloody discharge occurs after the end of a period, 75% are breast cancer.

2. Causes of nipple discharge?

Women who are not breastfeeding suddenly appear nipple discharge because of the following reasons:
Using drugs Narrowing of the mammary ducts Excessive breast stimulation Breast abscess Mastitis Endocrine disorders Change in cystic fibers: The disease changes in the fibrocystic gland of the mammary gland, which is common in women aged 30 - 50 years old. Breast trauma Uprolactin hypersecretion Dilated or cystic ductal fibrosis Increased lactation associated with amenorrhea, infertility. Ductal papilloma or ductal papilloma is one of the causes of nipple discharge outside of lactation. Breast cancer: The phenomenon of nipple discharge makes many people fear that they are at risk of breast cancer. Signs of breast cancer such as: lumps, swelling of all or part of the breast (even if no lump is felt), changes in the skin of the breast, such as burning or indentation, pregnancy pain nipple or nipple, inverted nipple, nipple or breast skin that is red, scaly, or thickened, with non-milky nipple discharge. Paget's disease (Pagets Disease of the Nipple), around the nipple; Areola symptoms appear as eczema, the patient has itchy skin; pain and burning sensation, sometimes with dark red, bloody secretions or painless lumps. In addition, to diagnose the cause of nipple discharge, it must also be based on many factors such as:
Continuous discharge or batches of natural discharge or when pressing on the breast The discharge is related to menstrual period no Color of discharge (clear, bloody, or other color) With or without a tumor No many rays or rays Are you taking birth control pills or taking estrogen?

3. The phenomenon of nipple discharge when to see a doctor?

In the case of nipple discharge accompanied by the following symptoms, the patient should immediately go to the hospital for examination:
Discharge includes blood, yellow, milky fluid but not related to pregnancy. Protracted and spontaneous discharge Discharge from a duct in only one breast With associated breast tumor. When going to the doctor, the doctor will order an ultrasound of the breast and help the patient find lesions in the mammary ducts, do a biopsy to identify papillary cancer and papillomas. If necessary, your doctor may recommend a contrast-enhanced ductal angiogram.
Breast exams are performed in many reproductive health services. Breast examination combined with counseling and guidance on breast self-examination helps to detect breast diseases and detect breast cancer early. The best time for breast examination and breast self-examination is about 2-3 days after menstruation. Women aged 20-39 should have a breast exam every 1-3 years, and women 40 and older need a breast exam once a year.
To help customers detect and treat breast - gynecological cancer early, Vinmec International Hospital has a package of screening and early detection of breast - gynecological cancer, helping customers detect diseases early. and easy, inexpensive treatment.
In addition, to prepare for a healthy pregnancy, both husband and wife should check their reproductive health 3-5 months before becoming pregnant.
The wife should:
Get vaccinated before pregnancy (especially against rubella because rubella in pregnancy is extremely dangerous ) Genetic testing to screen for genetic diseases before pregnancy Check for secondary infections In particular, women over 35 years of age, if they want to become pregnant (especially if they have never been pregnant), will have to have a very detailed health check because pregnancy at this age often problems: Ovarian failure, premature birth, higher risk of birth defects, placenta previa, preeclampsia. The husband should:
Check reproductive health, detect diseases of testicular atrophy, physiological weakness, weak sperm... Sexually transmitted diseases, especially those that cannot be cured, are extremely dangerous. Vinmec currently has many comprehensive health care programs for couples, pregnant mothers and their unborn babies, including basic pre-marital examination packages, advanced pre-marital examination packages, and maternity packages. . Vinmec has a team of experienced doctors in the fields of obstetrics and gynecology, IVF, stem cells, gene technology, capable of synchronously and comprehensively deploying the most advanced assisted reproductive techniques today.
For specific information about fertility and maternity packages at Vinmec, please contact the hospitals and clinics of Vinmec health system nationwide.

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