Nipple discharge

Overview

Nipple discharge isn't usually a sign of anything serious, but sometimes it's a good idea to get it checked just in case.

Lots of women have nipple discharge from time to time. It may just be normal for you.

It's also not unusual for babies (boys and girls) to have milky nipple discharge soon after they're born. This should stop in a few weeks.

Nipple discharge in men is not normal.

The colour of your discharge is not a good way of telling if it's anything serious. Normal discharge can be lots of colours.

You have nipple discharge and any of these:

it happens regularly and isn't just a one-off
it only comes from 1 breast
it's bloodstained or smelly
you're not breastfeeding and it leaks out without any pressure on your breast
you're over 50
you have other symptoms – such as a lump, pain, redness or swelling in your breast
you're a man

It's probably nothing serious. But there's a small chance it could be cancer, so it's best to get checked.

What happens at your GP appointment

The GP will look at and examine your breasts.

They may refer you to a hospital or breast clinic for further tests. These will usually show that you do not have cancer.

What happens at the breast clinic

At the hospital or breast clinic, you may have a:

breast examination
scan – usually a breast X-ray (mammogram) or ultrasound
biopsy – where a needle is inserted into your breast to remove some cells for testing

The tests are often done during the same visit.

You'll usually be told the results on the same day, although biopsy results can take longer – you should get them in a week or two.

Nipple discharge has many possible causes.

Common causes include:

Nipple discharge by itself is not usually a sign of breast cancer.

The information on this page has been adapted by NHS Wales from original content supplied by