Introduction
Galactorrhea (also known as galactorrhea) is the discharge of breast milk or milky secretions from the female breast without the woman having been pregnant or recently giving birth. However, galactorrhea can also occur in men and children. The causes are manifold and should always be clarified diagnostically. In most cases, the causes are harmless. A visit to a doctor is nevertheless advisable if milk flow remains constant.
Symptoms
Galactorrhea is manifested by the discharge of milky secretions from the nipple. It can occur either spontaneously or only when the nipple is squeezed together. The amount of secretion can vary greatly, ranging from a few drops to several milliliters.
In most cases the milk flow is not dangerous, but certain symptoms may indicate a serious cause. These include, for example, if the milk flow only occurs on one side, if it is permanent, if it is accompanied by pain, if it is sticky or malodorous, purulent or bloody. Even if it appears that the breast is inflamed (swollen, overheated or reddened), the milk flow should definitely be clarified by a doctor in order to rule out any more serious causes, such as breast cancer. Further symptoms, for example the absence of menstruation (amenorrhea), can indicate a prolactinoma as the cause of galactorrhea.
Galactorrhea in the menopause
During menopause there is typically a deficiency of the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone. The reason for this is that the ovaries are no longer as active and also restrict hormone production. At the end of the menopause, the hormone production of the ovaries has ceased completely.
However, galactorrhea is more likely to be triggered by increased production of the hormone estrogen, so that galactorrhea is rather untypical during the menopause. Another reason for galactorrhea could be a tumor, the so-called prolactinoma. The tumor grows in the pituitary gland and causes the hormone prolactin to be secreted more strongly than normal.
An increased level of prolactin can lead to galactorrhea. This could be a possible reason for galactorrhea in the menopause. However, prolactinomas occur most frequently between the ages of 20 and 40.
This means that prolactinoma most often manifests itself before the menopause. Furthermore, various drugs can cause an increased production of prolactin, which can then lead to galactorrhea. These drugs include certain antidepressants and antihypertensive drugs such as clonidine or reserpine.
In addition, individual drugs from the group of neuroleptics can also trigger galactorrhea. Neuroleptics are used to treat various mental illnesses. This topic might also be of interest to you: Symptoms of the menopause
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