Galactorrhea is a medical disorder in which there is a milky Discharge from the breast nipples. This milk or milk-like discharge is not due to normal milk production during breastfeeding. Galactorrhea is not related to the milk produced in the breasts during and after pregnancy. Galactorrhea is not a disease but a symptom of an underlying medical condition.
Symptoms
The most common signs and symptoms of galactorrhea are:
- Continuous or intermittent milky discharge from the nipples
- One or both breasts might get affected
- Multiple milk ducts are involved in the discharge of milk
- Menstrual periods in women get irregular or absent
- The discharge might vary from light flow to heavy flow
- Vision problems
- Headaches
Causes
The main cause of galactorrhea is an overproduction of prolactin. Prolactin is a hormone that is usually produced in women by the pituitary gland after reproduction.
Other usual causes for galactorrhea are:
- Medicines such as antidepressants, certain sedatives, antipsychotic drugs, high blood pressure drugs
- Birth control pills
- Hypothyroidism
- Chronic kidney disease
- Stress
- Use of opioids
- Disorder of the pituitary gland or prolactinoma (non-cancerous tumor in the pituitary gland)
- Nerve damage to the chest
- Herbal supplements such as fenugreek or aniseed
Treatment
The focus of the treatment in galactorrhea is to treat the underlying medical condition. The treatment approach would be determined by the treatment of the condition that is causing the galactorrhea.
The treatment options usually prescribed are :
- Avoiding the medicines that cause the discharge
- Taking medicines that decrease or stop the production of prolactin
- In some cases, surgery may be required to remove the tumor if galactorrhea is caused by a prolactinoma
Galactorrhea is completely curable once the underlying cause has been identified. Most people affected by galactorrhea make a full recovery.
Disclaimer: The information in no way constitutes, or should be construed as medical advice. Nor is the above article an endorsement of any research findings discussed in the article an endorsement for any of the source publications.
Sources-
- https://www.healthline.com/health/galactorrhea#treatment
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/galactorrhea/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20350434
The post Galactorrhea: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment appeared first on Scientific Animations.
