A white nipple discharge - mostly only extracted when squeezed

[J-16Cali]

About a year ago, I began experiencing a thick white nipple discharge protruding out of my nipples. I wasn't sure what it was so I tried to get it off and then realized that it was coming out of my nipple and squeezed it out. I was completely freaked out. I could see a clear opening from where the discharge had come. I had pierced my nipple about 6 months before this happened, but it wasn't until after I had removed the ring for a few months that I started to experience this discharge. Since then, I have continued to experience the discharge with some regularity (this has continued for over a year), and the discharge has remained the same - still think and white, and still needs to be extracted even though I can see it underneath the skin or it may begin to protrude on it's own.
Also, a month or two after the first one started, I began to check out the other nipple. If I poked around at it - I could get similar results. I am a 26-year-old woman, who has never been pregnant (there was no chance of that happening when this began either). What do I do? I am slightly embarrased by this, I have kind of bounced it around some of my friends, and no one has experienced anything like this. Even a friend of mine who also used to have a pierced nipple (I thought that was the cause at first). Do I need to do a biopsy? Mammogram? I am so young, but the more I research it on the internet, the more freaked out I am by the potential problems that could result. I did have my prolactin tested about a month ago by my OBGYN (dont know results yet) and she didn't think it was a big deal. help.

[funkynina]

I appologize. I wasn't suggesting that this was the situation. I wanted to mearly share my experience in case someone read this section and had the same problem as I have had. I also wanted to make the comment about the information my OB had given me. I do know that trauma to the breast, maybe like piercing, could cause cancerous cells. I am not saying at all that this is her situation, but just wanted to try to be informative. I agree I do think that is odd that the "puss" would continue for some time even after the hole isn't being used.  I am also not sure if it would affect your breast feeding or not. I guess maybe you could have the "puss" substance looked at by your OB and see if it is bacterial. I don't think it would be a good idea to breast feed without having it checked incase it is bacterial and could pass some kind of infection on to the baby. Maybe you could just need an antibiotic or something. I wish you the best of luck. I'll try to be more clear with my information in the future!! Hope to hear from you soon.

[sl88]

im am an 18 year old girl who has this exact same problem. I got my right nipple pierced about 4 years ago but took it off about 2 years ago, and ever since i took it off ive been experiencing these odd puss like excretions which frankly im inda worried about, but after reading this i feel a lot better. I also have polycystic ovaries and was wondering if that might have to do with the situation at all, or if is is merely a piercing related problem.

[brexys]

I read your experience, and I get the same thing too. I had my nipples pierced for about 4 years, and once I took them out I got the discharge when I squeezed. It does smell. I've been too embarrassed to ask my doctor about it. I haven't had the rings for about 3 years. I never found a lump in my breast, nothing really scary... so I never asked. My friend who had her nipples pierced also experience the same thing.The discharge is really thick, it comes out in the front of the nipple and the holes where they were pierced.
I may ask eventually - I just want it to go away! I'm worried that one day it's going to embarrass me in a situation... ya know?

[laahdeedaah]

Yup, it's a piercing thing. That stuff gathers in all piercings---it's not nipple-specific, so no worries. Just a normal side effect, I think it's something to do with oils and dead skin cells from the body that get trapped there.

[Evie1963]

laahdeedaah is correct! Haven't any of you squeezed an ear piercing that hasn't had in earring in it for years? Same stuff. I love squeezing my partner's - when he lets me. :)

[mcp3262]

I have these bumps around my nipples and when I squeeze them thick white stuff comes out. I never had my nipples pierced or had any children to breast feed. Does anyone know what the problem could be.

[awakeningsing]

you are not supposed to squeeze those, they are glands that keep your nipple naturally moisturized everyone has them.