What is the reason for yellow discharge from nipples?

Under normal circumstances, if a female friend is not in the breastfeeding period but has yellow fluid coming out of the nipple, it indicates that there is something abnormal with the breast and she is very likely to have breast diseases such as mastitis, breast hyperplasia, and mammary duct dilatation. Therefore, once this symptom occurs, she must be examined and treated as soon as possible; in addition, if the fluid is purulent, it may be acute mastitis and breast abscess.

(1) Milky fluid: The color of the discharge is similar to skimmed milk. It is common in amenorrhea-galactorrhea syndrome (galactorrhea), hyperpituitarism syndrome, or excessive release of prolactin due to inhibition of the pituitary gland after oral contraceptives. Some patients with fibrocystic fibrosis may also experience this condition, often with multiple tubes of discharge on both sides that flows out automatically.

(2) Comedonal discharge: It is mostly caused by mammary duct ectasia. Most patients have congenital inverted nipples, and the nipples have lipid comedonal-like secretions with a foul odor. This kind of overflow is thick and mixed with various colors, and it overflows automatically. Patients with bilateral polyductal disease are often accompanied by burning, swelling, and itching. It can also be seen in menopausal or young and middle-aged women with hypogonadism.

(3) Watery discharge: The discharge is thin and watery and is often caused by diseases such as intraductal papilloma, cystic breast hyperplasia and breast cancer. Recently, some people believe that about 50% of watery discharges are caused by cancer.

(4) Purulent fluid: The discharge is pus-like and is common in breast abscess caused by acute mastitis after childbirth.

(5) Serous fluid: It is light yellow in color. Most cases are caused by intraductal papilloma under the nipple. It can also be seen in cystic breast hyperplasia, mammary duct ectasia and breast cancer.

(6) Bloody fluid or serous bloody fluid: bloody fluid is red and serous bloody fluid is pink. Bloody discharge is more common in intraductal papilloma. If a patient over 50 years old has bloody discharge from one nipple, it often indicates that it may be intraductal papillary carcinoma and should be taken seriously. Serous blood can be caused by intraductal papilloma, cystic breast hyperplasia, or intraductal papillary carcinoma.

(7) Light green discharge: The discharge is a light green liquid, which is less common. Common in cystic breast hyperplasia.