Diseases

Galactorrhoea

Galactorrhoea is spontaneous release of milk from female breast irrespective of childbirth or nursing. The term is used when there is non lactational milk production 1 year after pregnancy and after cessation of breast feeding. It can also occur in newborn infants, adolescents of sexes, nulliparous women, or even males. It is called neonatal milk or witch’s milk when it occurs in newborn infants.

Published January 12, 2022

Causes and risk factors

Lactation requires hormones oestrogen, progesterone and prolactin. Hormonal imbalance especially hyperprolactinemia causes Galactorrhoea. If Galactorrhoea is present with amenorrhoea, it is due to hyperprolactinemia .Prolcatin [PRL] is responsible for morphological development of breast and lactation. It includes synthesis of milk and maintenance of milk production. PRL is synthesized and secreted by lactotrophs in the anterior pituitary gland. Various factors affect PRL levels such as pituitary dopamine inhibits PRL secretion, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide stimulates PRL synthesis, thyrotropin releasing hormone can increase PRL secretion. Oestrogen is directly associated with levels of prolactin. It is also associated with increase in levels of thyroid hormones – TRH and TSH. Overstimulation of breast or nipples, pathological nipple discharge, breast pathologies – tumours, certain foods, medications like anti psychotic drugs, OC pills, pituitary adenomas, chronic kidney disease, nerve damage of chest wall due to injury or burns, spinal cord surgery are some of the contributing factors for Galactorrhoea.

Clinical presentation

Patient presents with signs and symptoms such as intermittent or continuous discharge of milk from nipples discharge from one or both breasts, discharge involving multiple milk ducts, it may be spontaneous discharge or expressed manually, amenorrhoea, irregular periods, headache, disturbed vision.

Investigation

Medical history by the patient and Clinical examination by the doctor helps in diagnosis. Blood test for checking hormonal levels, analysis of discharged fluid, pregnancy test are primarily done. USG, mammography, MRI scan of breast are done to rule out other possible diseases.

Treatment

Treatment depends upon the underlying cause. Avoiding use of medications that are causing it. Medications for correcting hormonal levels may eliminate Galactorrhoea.

Other Modes of treatment

The other modes of treatment can also be effective in treating Galactorrhoea. Homoeopathy is a science which deals with individualization considers a person in a holistic way. This science can be helpful in combating the symptoms. Similarly the ayurvedic system of medicine which uses herbal medicines and synthetic derivates are also found to be effective in treating Galactorrhoea .