Q. Is nipple discharge common in teenagers?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
Nipple discharge is surprisingly common in teenagers and it’s an important sign to pay attention to. Nipple discharge can be classified into normal and abnormal. Normal nipple discharge is common in adolescents and often driven by fluctuating hormones, particularly during puberty or menstrual cycles. Abnormal nipple discharge can be caused by a range of medical conditions, so it’s important to pay attention if you notice something unusual and seek out medical advice.
Normal nipple discharge usually happens due to hormonal fluctuations that occur throughout the menstrual cycle or during pregnancy for some teenage women. This type of nipple discharge typically occurs after pressing/stimulating the nipples (aka ‘provoked' papillary ejection) which releases various hormones from glands inside them – this is known as galactorrhea (or galactorrhoea). Hormonal changes during adolescence can lead to more frequent hormone secretion which can cause occasional episodes of spontaneous galactorrhea, even without any manual stimulation of the nipples! It’s nothing too serious but if you experience recurrent episodes of spontaneous breast leakage then it might be best to talk with your doctor about this further as they may recommend certain tests/treatments depending on the underlying cause.
Meanwhile, abnormal nipple discharges are always something to look out for - especially if they're bloody or have other discolourations such as greenish-yellowish fluids etc… These could signify lactational mastitis which is an infection caused when bacteria enter through cracked skin around the nipples into breast tissue itself - potentially leading up serious symptoms like fever and lymph node swelling – so make sure you pay close attention! Other uncommon causes include benign tumors in mammary ducts or puerperal mastitis (inflammation resulting from complications in breastfeeding). If ever faced with these types of discharges then please do not hesitate seeking professional help from doctors who will definitely assist in getting rid off any nasty underlying issues you might have!
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