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Can men lactate?

Key takeaways: The idea that anyone who isn't nursing, including men, can make breast milk may seem bizarre. But how different are male and female breasts, really? The truth is: any person, even those who are not pregnant or nursing, can lactate.

goodrx.com - Is It True Men Can Lactate? 3 Common Causes to Know About

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Key takeaways: The idea that anyone who isn’t nursing, including men, can make breast milk may seem bizarre. But how different are male and female breasts, really? The truth is: any person, even those who are not pregnant or nursing, can lactate. Lactating when not pregnant or nursing is usually a sign of an underlying medical problem that shouldn’t be ignored. Breast milk is made in the mammary glands of the breasts. Typically, lactation happens in response to pregnancy and birth-related hormonal changes. While it’s rare, sometimes people who are not pregnant or nursing, including men, produce milk from their nipples. When this happens, it’s usually a sign of an underlying issue.

Can a person who is male produce breast milk?

The short answer is, yes, anyone can lactate. All children and teenagers have a small amount of breast tissue. If that tissue is exposed to hormones like estrogen and progesterone during puberty, it develops into a breast capable of making milk. But milk is normally only made in late pregnancy and while nursing. Even for people who don’t develop full breasts in puberty, lactation is possible, if unusual. Galactorrhea is the medical term for breast milk production that is not due to pregnancy or nursing.

What makes a man lactate?

Most cases of male galactorrhea are caused by high levels of a hormone called prolactin. Prolactin is the human hormone that stimulates milk production. Everyone has a small amount of prolactin in their blood, but it is not usually enough to lead to milk production. Hyperprolactinemia is the medical term for a person who has abnormally high levels of prolactin but isn’t pregnant or nursing. When prolactin levels are high, the mammary glands in the breast produce milk.

Let’s run through some common causes of hyperprolactinemia.

Pituitary tumor

A prolactinoma is a benign tumor in the pituitary gland, the part of the brain that makes prolactin. These types of tumors are the main cause of hyperprolactinemia and unwanted lactation.

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism , an underactive thyroid, is another, less common cause of hyperprolactinemia. A lot of hormone circuits in the body are connected, so when one is dysregulated, other hormones are often affected, too. Low thyroid hormone levels can lead to extra activity in the pituitary gland. And, if the cells in the pituitary that control prolactin are overstimulated, that can cause hyperprolactinemia.

Medication side effects

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Some medications can lead to hyperprolactinemia and abnormal breast development in men, which is called gynecomastia .

Here are some more common medications that can do this:

Certain antipsychotics: haloperidol (Haldol), risperidone (Risperdal), chlorpromazine , and fluphenazine

Nausea medication: metoclopramide (Reglan)

Antidepressant medications: like fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft)

Opioid medications: like morphine and methadone

Blood pressure medication: verapamil

Is it bad if a man has high levels of prolactin?

High prolactin levels in people who are male can cause a range of symptoms and issues related to sex and physical appearance, which can be difficult to live with. These include:

Galactorrhea: abnormal lactation

Gynecomastia: abnormal breast tissue growth

Low testosterone: a hormonal change that can cause a low sex drive, thinning bones, reduced muscle mass, and loss of body hair Infertility: low sperm counts , caused by a lack of sperm production related to high prolactin levels Erectile dysfunction: difficulty getting and maintaining an erection sufficient for satisfying sexual intercourse

What should I do if I’m male and I start lactating?

Below are some things to keep in mind if you’re male and start lactating.

First steps

For anyone who isn’t pregnant or nursing, lactating is a sign that something is probably out of balance. A good first step is to see your healthcare provider. They will ask you about any other symptoms you have and the names of all of the medications and supplements in your daily routine. Your healthcare provider will then order blood tests to see if you have high levels of prolactin. These tests will also check levels of other hormones, including thyroid hormones. It’s possible you may need a brain scan, like a CT scan or an MRI, to check for a growth in the pituitary gland. Or you may need a mammogram or chest ultrasound.

When to worry

Though most causes of lactation are not life threatening, don’t ignore the problem.

Very rarely, lactation might be a sign of breast cancer .

It is important to see your primary care provider right away if you notice any of these worrying symptoms:

Lactation from one breast only

Skin changes around the nipple or breast

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A hard or firm mass that you can feel in the breast

Blood coming from the nipple

What is the treatment for unwanted lactation?

The treatment you receive depends on the root cause of the problem.

If one of your medications is causing your hyperprolactinemia, your healthcare provider might need to recommend an alternative. If hypothyroidism is the source of the problem, the next step is to figure out what is causing the thyroid issue. Once the thyroid is treated, your prolactin levels should go back to normal, stopping the lactation. If your hyperprolactinemia is caused by a benign brain tumor, medications may help. Prescription medications like cabergoline and bromocriptine (Parlodel) affect your hormonal balance and can get you back to normal. When taking these medications, your prolactin levels will be checked regularly to make sure they are going in the right direction. The bottom line It’s not normal for anyone who isn’t pregnant or nursing a child to produce milk from their nipples. When it happens, it is usually a result of some sort of hormonal imbalance or the side effect of a medication. Unexpected lactation may be something you’re tempted to keep quiet about, but it always needs to be checked out. Sometimes, it may be a sign of a serious problem, so the sooner the issue is diagnosed, the better. The Unmentionables is a series that focuses on common curiosities about our bodies that, at some point, have been labeled as taboo, shameful, or embarrassing. But these are important questions we all have about our health, and we should be able to ask them. This series aims to dispel the stigma, normalize the discussion, and openly address these important health topics.

Don’t be shy. Someone else has the same question, so ask away!

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goodrx.com - Is It True Men Can Lactate? 3 Common Causes to Know About

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