Why do I still have milk in my breast after 3 years?

Reasons for lactating when not recently pregnant can range from hormone imbalances to medication side effects to other health conditions. The most common cause of breast milk production is an elevation of a hormone produced in the brain called prolactin.

healthline.com - Lactating Not Pregnant: Symptoms and Treatment - Healthline

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Galactorrhea’s most common symptom is one or both breasts producing excessive milk. The condition is most common in women, but can also happen to men and newborn babies.

Other symptoms include:

leaking from nipples that happens at random

enlargement of breast tissue

missed or irregular periods

loss of or lowered sex drive

nausea

acne

abnormal hair growth

headaches

trouble with vision

Causes of lactating when you’re not pregnant

Galactorrhea has a wide variety of different causes, and in some cases, the cause is hard to pinpoint. Reasons for lactating when not recently pregnant can range from hormone imbalances to medication side effects to other health conditions. The most common cause of breast milk production is an elevation of a hormone produced in the brain called prolactin. Elevation of prolactin can be caused by: medications

underlying medical issues

a tumor

overstimulation of the nipples Other causes include the following. Medications Some medications may cause galactorrhea. These include: antipsychotics

antidepressants

birth control

heart burn medications

certain pain killers

blood pressure medicines

medications that contain hormones Medical conditions These conditions may also contribute to lactating when not pregnant: thyroid issues

kidney or liver disease

chronic stress

tumors or disease of the hypothalamus

any trauma or damage to breast tissue

high levels of estrogen (in newborns) Drug use Regular use of certain drugs, like opiates, marijuana, and cocaine, can trigger lactation without pregnancy. It’s important to tell your doctor if you’re using any drugs, and how often. They will need to consider this when diagnosing your galactorrhea. Breast stimulation For some people, having regular breast stimulation may trigger galactorrhea. This can be stimulation during sexual activity, from frequent breast self-exams, or from clothing that rubs against the nipples. Mothers who are adopting babies and wish to breast-feed can prepare their breasts and increase prolactin levels with pumping.

Diagnosis for lactating when you’re not pregnant

Treatment for galactorrhea depends on what’s causing it. Your doctor will ask about family history and then may do a few tests to determine the cause. The doctor will also do a physical breast exam. They may try to express some of the discharge for examination in a lab. Other tests can include: bloodwork to see hormone levels

pregnancy test to rule out pregnancy

mammogram or ultrasound to check for changes in breast tissue

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MRI to examine the brain for tumors or issues with the pituitary gland

Treatment for lactating when you’re not pregnant

Once your doctor has confirmed a cause, they’ll recommend treatment. Some things can be done on your own, like avoiding tight clothing and reducing the amount of nipple stimulation during sexual activities. Other treatments need to be supervised by your doctor, like changing medications (for example, switching to a different antidepressant) or taking additional medications to regulate hormones. Stopping antipsychotic medications, cutting back on marijuana, cocaine, and/or opiates, and limiting nipple stimulation are all ways to stop galactorrhea if these things are found to be the cause, according to Dr. Kevin Audlin of the Institute for Gynecologic Care at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. But he points out that it can take a few months for milk production to stop, even after discontinuing medication. If the cause is a tumor or issues with the pituitary gland, it’s possible you may need surgery. Your doctor will likely do more tests. Dr. Ross says medication can be given to bring down high prolactin numbers. “Bromocriptine is a medication used to lower the high levels of prolactin in your blood, which helps treat the symptom of lactation.”

Prevention

Many of the causes of galactorrhea, like hormonal imbalances, tumors, or other medical conditions, are beyond our control. But there are a few things you can do at home to reduce your likelihood of lactating while not pregnant, including: avoiding bras or clothing that irritate your nipples

avoiding stimulating breasts too often

practicing healthy ways to relieve stress

Should I be concerned?

The good news is that galactorrhea typically either goes away on its own or after medical treatment for its underlying cause. But if the discharge coming from your nipples is not milky and looks clear, bloody, or yellow, this is cause for concern. These may be signs of breast cancer. You should see your doctor right away. Other concerning causes of nipple discharge include: a benign (noncancerous) breast growth

pituitary gland tumors

a rare form of breast cancer called Paget’s disease of the nipple

Next steps

healthline.com - Lactating Not Pregnant: Symptoms and Treatment - Healthline

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