Lactation is common after a woman has given birth, and it can sometimes occur during pregnancy too. However, it is possible for both women and men to produce a milky discharge from one or both nipples without being pregnant or breastfeeding.
This form of lactation is called galactorrhea. Galactorrhea is unrelated to the milk that a woman produces when breastfeeding.
People may worry about unexpected nipple discharge, but there is no link between galactorrhea and breast cancer.
In this article, learn about the possible causes of lactating without being pregnant or breastfeeding, as well as when to see a doctor.
The hormone prolactin causes lactation during pregnancy and while
breastfeeding. People who have galactorrhea may produce too much
prolactin.
The pituitary gland, which is a small gland at the base of the brain, makes and regulates prolactin and several other hormones.
Problems with the pituitary gland, such as a noncancerous tumor or another pituitary disorder, can sometimes cause people who are not pregnant to lactate.
Other causes of galactorrhea include:
- excessive breast and nipple stimulation
- medications, including antipsychotics, , and drugs
- an underactive thyroid
- chronic kidney disease
- nerve damage to the chest from an injury or surgery
- some types of hormonal birth control
- spinal cord surgery or injury
- use of marijuana, opioids, or cocaine
- some herbal supplements, including fenugreek, anise, or fennel
- testosterone deficiency in men
- high levels of estrogen in newborns
In rare cases, people may lactate due to an emotional response to an unrelated baby. One studyTrusted Source described a young woman with type 1 diabetes whose nipples produced milky discharge under gentle pressure when she was near an unrelated newborn.
Her
symptoms went away when she was no longer near the baby. Doctors ruled
out all possible biological causes for lactation. In this case,
researchers believe that her lactation was due to an emotional response
to the baby.
Sometimes, doctors cannot pinpoint the underlying
cause of galactorrhea. In these cases, the condition is called
idiopathic galactorrhea.
People with idiopathic galactorrhea might
have breasts that are overly sensitive to prolactin, meaning that even
normal levels of the hormone might trigger them to produce a milky
discharge.
The signs and symptoms of galactorrhea may vary depending on the underlying cause, but they typically include:
- persistent or sporadic milky discharge from the nipple on one or both breasts
- leaking from the nipples, either spontaneously or due to manual stimulation
- or visual disturbances
Men with galactorrhea may also experience the following symptoms:
- enlarged breast area around the nipples
- tenderness in the breast area
- loss of sexual desire
The hormone prolactin causes lactation during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. People who have galactorrhea may produce too much prolactin.
The pituitary gland, which is a small gland at the base of the brain, makes and regulates prolactin and several other hormones.
Problems with the pituitary gland, such as a noncancerous tumor or another pituitary disorder, can sometimes cause people who are not pregnant to lactate.
Other causes of galactorrhea include:
- excessive breast and nipple stimulation
- medications, including antipsychotics, , and drugs
- an underactive thyroid
- chronic kidney disease
- nerve damage to the chest from an injury or surgery
- some types of hormonal birth control
- spinal cord surgery or injury
- use of marijuana, opioids, or cocaine
- some herbal supplements, including fenugreek, anise, or fennel
- testosterone deficiency in men
- high levels of estrogen in newborns
In rare cases, people may lactate due to an emotional response to an unrelated baby. One studyTrusted Source described a young woman with type 1 diabetes whose nipples produced milky discharge under gentle pressure when she was near an unrelated newborn.
Her symptoms went away when she was no longer near the baby. Doctors ruled out all possible biological causes for lactation. In this case, researchers believe that her lactation was due to an emotional response to the baby.
Sometimes, doctors cannot pinpoint the underlying cause of galactorrhea. In these cases, the condition is called idiopathic galactorrhea.
People with idiopathic galactorrhea might have breasts that are overly sensitive to prolactin, meaning that even normal levels of the hormone might trigger them to produce a milky discharge.
The signs and symptoms of galactorrhea may vary depending on the underlying cause, but they typically include:
- persistent or sporadic milky discharge from the nipple on one or both breasts
- leaking from the nipples, either spontaneously or due to manual stimulation
- or visual disturbances
Men with galactorrhea may also experience the following symptoms:
- enlarged breast area around the nipples
- tenderness in the breast area
- loss of sexual desire
The signs and symptoms of galactorrhea may vary depending on the underlying cause, but they typically include:
- persistent or sporadic milky discharge from the nipple on one or both breasts
- leaking from the nipples, either spontaneously or due to manual stimulation
- or visual disturbances
Men with galactorrhea may also experience the following symptoms:
- enlarged breast area around the nipples
- tenderness in the breast area
- loss of sexual desire
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