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.

[xrayu2]

Did your ob/gyn order a TSH(thyroid) and Prolactin(pituitary function)?  I have had nipple discharge only mine is spontaneous and I cannot make it happen.  They may even want a slide to see what type of cells are present in the discharge.  MY lab work was normal, so we are thinking it is coming from some ovarian cysts that I have been dealing with.  Right now they are no where to be found, but the breast issue is still going on.

[anothergirl]

It can be completely caused by the piercing. I have the exact same thing. Pierced both nipples, had them in for several years, got pregnant and took them out. That was 5 years ago and I still have thick/white discharge that I squeeze out like a pimple. My ob/gyn said the body normally produces body fluids anywhere there is a hole, especially man-made ones. That being said my ears do the same thing but just less frequently. I can't speak for your situation, but mine sounds similar and is considered normal and not a problem.

[Kailak32]

Were you able to breastfeed still with this going on?

[Linzyluhoo]

I had my nipples pierced a few years ago. I took them out when prego with my daughter. The whole time I had the piercing, I had that same white funk( If I twisted the rings to clean them). After I had taken them out I had a white discharge , if I squeezed them , as well. This only lasted for maybe 2 months after I took them out though.Are they soar??? Does your discharge have an odor?? If so, it never hurts to go get it checked out...just to rule out infection. Good luck

[Na_dine]

I have the same thing, both nipples pierced, took the rings out, have had the white stuff for about 10 years. Now I would like to get pregnant and am wondering if that will affect breast feeding.
Have any of you breasfed after nipple piercings? Nadine.

[Tattedmama14]

I breast fed my daughter. I took out the nipple rings before she was born and my right one never seemed to heal properly. Thick white stuff would come out of the piercing holes and smell really funky. She refused to feed on that nipple. She’d only feed on the left one that didn’t have the white discharge. It’s been about 6 years now and that white stuff still comes out of my right nip if I push on it. I’d for sure go ask your doc or obgyn. I am afraid to go because I’m scared it’s something more severe, especially since my kid wouldn’t feed on the right breast. She would literally gag and I knew it was because the piercing never fully healed.

[specialmom]

Gosh, that's too bad.  Most women with pierced nipples don't have issues breast feeding but that's unfortunate.  And six years later it still continues?  I had something called prolactemia.  This is non milk nipple discharge.  I was naturally producing too much estrogen which is what they said caused it for me.  No big deal, nothing serious.  Don't be afraid to get checked.  Do you have pain or anything tattedmama?

[funkynina]

I have the same thing.  No piercings though!! Sounds a little painful.  Anyway, about 7 months ago I (for some reason) checked my breast and squeezed it.  I also had white stuff come out.  Then it turned clear with the white substance coming into the clear stuff.  Sometimes the stuff is clear, white, and sometimes it looks greenish?  I went to my OB/GYN to have it checked out.  Whe didn't seem very concerned and said to call back if it didn't subside so of course I did.  I saw another dr. in their practice and he did not seem worried either.  I continued to call until they finally they drew blood to check my pituitary gland for tumors (which are usually no prob.)  They also checked for early menopause.  The test all came back good and normal.  I still was not satisfied so they sent me for mamogram and a ultrasound.  Which I researched and the ultrasound is the very best for early early detection of breast cancer.  These both came back clear.  I finally went to see a very good breast specialist and she did an exam also and reviewed the test I had done.  She basically said that this is sometimes normal.  She said to call back if it started to come out of one area on the nipple or if blood started to come out.  Do you know what I mean by one area?  I breast fed my daughter and I used a pump for part of the time when the pump extracts the milk from your breast it comes out of several ?holes? That's what I mean. My daughter is 2 1/2 years old now so I don't really think it has anything to do with that. I know that there is not a big concern unless it is blood coming out. She said it could come and go? (Great huh!?) Have you had a breast exam?  Or done a self exam?  If you have the discharge and find a lump you should continue to push your dr. to do more test.  Or go to another dr.  maybe a friend could rec. one for you.  It definately does nothing for your sex drive.  Please let us know what you find out.  I hope everything is okay for you.

[Na_dine]

funkynina,
I think you have experienced a different thing, but that you for the response. The white stuff that comes out of a piercing hole (for myself anyhow) just comes out of the holes that were made by the piercing and not through any other part of the nipple or breast. It is definately a piercing related gunk, like a thick puss. It is just strange that it keeps occurring for years after a piercing hole has been out of use.

[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.

[Correa]

Thank you for your comment, I am experiencing the same thing and have an appt. on Monday to see my doctor.  Your comment made me feel a little more relaxed.  My doctor basically said the same thing, but of course she wants to rule out anything else. Just wanted to say thank you.

[pretty in pink]

i never had my nipples pierced but I'm experiencing the same thing and i'm starting to get scared.  my nipples have never been pierced, i've never been pregnant, and yet i have white discharge that i have to squeeze out every now and again.  I've been experiencing this since i went camping w my boyfriend 2yrs ago, should i get this checked out? who would i go to to get this looked at?

[oohoohIknow]

My comment will not help with the piercing issue, but it may help clear up what some of the rest of you are wondering about milk release from non-lactating women. Women who have never been pregnant are actually often capable of producing milk.  I saw a case study of a woman who set out to breast-feed her adopted infant, by feeding formula through thin tubes taped to her nipples, and leading to a bottle/formula reservoir on her back, as well as taking synthetic lactation hormones orally. The idea was that if she did this long enough, the physical stimulation of her breasts and the emotion-linked hormones would produce lactation, and her breasts would eventually 'come into milk' fully.  She did this for weeks under a doctor's supervision, and did make ounces of milk at a time eventually, but had to continue the formula as a supplement, as she never fully lactated as she would have if her breasts had been prepared by the hormones of pregnancy. SO, even if you have never had a baby, you can often squeeze a drop out of a nipple. In fact, perhaps you already know that some MEN can do a neat trick where if they squeeze their own nipple hard enough, they can usually get a drop of clear-ish fluid out, called 'colostrum', or 'early milk', like a woman makes in the first day after the birth of a baby before her 'milk comes in'.  Each woman's breasts and hormone balance are different-  some never-pregnant women can't squeeze a drop out at all, some can even spontaneously exude a drop of white 'true' milk. I have also read that women who have been on birth control pills for long periods are more likely to produce a drop or two, because the method of birth control hormones is to prevent pregnancy by making the body believe it is already pregnant.
     As for piercings, they can be a pain in the A__!  If I had known about the pus, the pain, and the possibility that some people's bodies just won't give in to a foreign object ever PERIOD, I would never have encouraged my daughter to be the first one in our family to get her ears pierced.  Since then I have been studying this and the general concensus is:      piercings = pus + pain for 63% of us; and if you are in the piercing-perfect pus-free 37%, my best to you, seriously, enjoy your unique ability to accept body accessories!

[Lehcar601]

I'm so glad I found this website!  I had both nipples pierced about 7 years ago and about 4 years ago removed my rings.  I've noticed since then white pus comes out of the pierced holes when I squeeze.  It smells like the same stuff from your ears but doesn't really hurt and not green like an infection.  I was so worried since now I'm pregnant and want to breastfeed and wasn't sure what the puss was from . . .  I'm glad to know I'm not the only one in the white pus boat after piercing.  Thanks!

[pattycake_316]

i had my nipples peirced 4 years ago, and took them out when i got pregnant with my first child 2 years ago.  my nipples had the same white thick gunk coming out the peircing holes, along with ALOT of soarness in just the nipples. the soarness stopped in my second trimester, THANK GOD. i did breastfeed for the first three months, and much to my dismay stopped producing milk after that and had to quit.  while breasfeeding though, be prepared for the milk to come out of the piercing holes!  my husband found it hilarious! anyway, im pregnant with my second now, and the soarness is back ten-fold, and it seems the the white gunk has never really gone away.  i cant wait for the pain to go away since im already 20 weeks, but im too scared to ask my dr if there is anything i can do about the pain or if these are symptoms of anything more serious.   i am DEFINATLY glad to hear im not the only one experiencing the discharge though... at least i know im not alone!!

[Jessilyn]

I have mine peirced as well..and I have the same thing..it's normal..

[tdaisy29]

I am 30 yrs old. I gave birth to my son 10 ys ago. I came across this sight because Im expierencing the same problem even though Ive never had my nipples pierced. I seemed to get these little bumps around my nipple after birth. Ive always do myself exams and have had them checked annually. I was told by the OBGYN that some women get these bumps and they go away some get them and they get smaller or the enlarge. Well, unfortunally i am the lucky one to get the enlarging ones. For the past 10 yrs I have always had this thick whit (FUNK) odorless I may add, that I can squeeze out like a pimple. But the past mth. my right nipple squeezed out a runnier greenish tint (FUNK). So yesterday I went in for an exam. My OBGYN said it was somewhat normal but to definetly quit squeezing them. ( IM SORRY BUT THATS HARD TO DO!!!!) Anyways I have a mamorgram next week. Wish me luck. Ill keep everyone posted. OH!!! before I realized this greenish (FUNK) I had jetting pains from my armpit to my breast. Not all at the same time but in a course of a few weeks. So im pretty worried, Ive never had those before. CHOW!!!!!!!!

[jbop]

I had similar pain and nipple discharge-when I squeezed that looked blackish/grayish. The pain in my armpit to my breast was pretty severe at times and felt like a burning sensation with a lot of pressure like someone was standing next to me with their thumb pushed under my armpit. I went and checked out "Dr.Susan Love's Breast Book" from the library and saw that where my pain was located was along the path of lymph nodes in my breast. I called and made an appointment, had an ultrasound, and a mammogram but nothing was discovered. The discharge stopped for about 2 years but today I noticed think white, almost like snot discharge from the same nipple. I just had my yearly and my doctor said my breasts didn't feel unusual. I'm 25 but when I was younger I never had trouble with my breasts, pain doesn't seem normal but yet nothing has been found. Should I get a second opinion?

[reeciedog]

Just took my nipple piercings out after 7 years and now I have the same scary thick white discharge! I am so glad this is normal....and that my piercing stage is nearly over. Does it subside? Don't really want to milk my nipples on a regular basis. Did anyone have itching along with it?

[kapai]

About 16 years ago I had had surgery on my nipples.  They were inverted so I had them surgically brought out.  (wish I never did that now) Since then I have the same thick white discharge that most of the women are talking about. I have to squeeze it out.  My Concern:  This discharge has the same odor as the discharge that you get out of old ear piercings.  It isn't strong but it isn't oderless.  If it has an odor it must have a taste to it.  I am always self consious of this and never let my husband around my breast area while we are having sex.  My Question:  Is there any way to get rid of it???  Has anyone ever been RX a cream or something???  How do you make it STOP!

[generationimpactor]

I'm 17 years old.  A few months ago my nipples started to feel wet at spontanious times.  Everytime i squeezed them to see if anything would come out nothing would, so I ignored it.  (maybe it was my imagination) Just so you all know I've never had a nipple peircing and I've never been pregnant.  Well this month it changed.  I had white stuff on my nipples like dried cream.  I could also see it underneath my nipple skin and can now squeeze it out like puss or a pimple.  I also have little red dots on my nipples.  I don't know what they are either.  Reading this column has made me feel more confidant, but i'm still younger than everyone else who has written in this forum.  Non - cancerous lumps run in my family my grandmother, mother, and sister all have had them.  I wonder if my hormones are a little off and am considering go on the pill to see if it helps regulate them and gets rid of the problem.  I havn't told my doctor about it yet.  Somone mentioned to me that it is possible to get breast tumors that is related to the excreation of a white substance, but again i guess if it's not blood then it's not a big concern.  However i do have these teansy red dots.  Is it possible that they are dried blood blisters or traces of blood?  I have no idea!  I am glad that I'm not the only one with this problem, but I don't understand why this happend to me when I'm so young.

[RieChan]

I know a lot of people are asking the same thing. I'm 25 and having the same issue but with only one nipple. I've never had nipple piercings and I've never been pregnant but I was on birth control when I was younger for PCOS and recently I've had to use Plan B a couple of times. Anyway It usually only happens with my left nipple and when squeezed every couple of hours it secretes a discharge clear the first second then followed by a sometimes cloudy white but usually off white-yellowish color puss with the consistency of lotion out of the center of the nipple. That particular breast usually hurts and itches very badly afterwards. I've been confused if it's an infection or a side effect from using Plan B too often or if Plan B failed some early sign of pregnancy..?