Nipple discharge can have various causes, ranging in severity from 'needs attention' to 'generally fatal'. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.
Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose nipple discharge, we could:
Cause | Probability | Status |
---|---|---|
Male Breast Cancer | 95% | Confirm |
Pregnancy Issues | 21% | Unlikely |
Breast Cancer | 0% | Ruled out |
If you have any unusual discharge from your nipples, what color is it?
Possible responses:
→ Don't know / I am pregnant or lactating→ There is no discharge → White or almost white → Yellow-green → Almost black |
Nipple discharge is usually harmless, and should not signify anything seriously wrong. Most women can squeeze some discharge out of their nipples, especially if they have had children in the past.
Nipple discharge, either bloody or serous, is distinctly abnormal in men and must always be taken seriously. Although it may very well turn out to be nothing, it should always be followed up with mammography and biopsy if any mammographic abnormality is found.
Some women have nipple discharge very early in pregnancy.