There are many reasons for nipple discharge. In this discussion you will learn about the different types of nipple discharge and the causes of each type. You will learn how your health care provider diagnoses the cause of your discharge and how it may be treated. Nipple discharge is any kind of fluid that comes out of your nipple. Each of your nipples contains tiny openings through which fluid can pass.
Nipple discharge is usually a symptom of another condition.
The color and consistency of the discharge, as well as whether it comes from one or both breasts, helps the health care provider know what is causing it. A clear, straw-colored discharge sometimes develops in early pregnancy. A milky or greenish discharge may occur in someone who is not pregnant or breast-feeding. In this case the discharge is called galactorrhea. Also, any woman who has had a baby, whether or not she breast-fed her baby, may later have galactorrhea.