LADIES!? A bit of an odd nipple question for you all.?

Question

one of my nipples is normal - one is open... By open I mean it is not fully round and connected at the end - its open and I can squeeze discharge out of it. Its been like this for YEARS. I went to the doctor when I was younger and she had no idea what it was so she sent me to get a mammogram. When I got to the mammogram clinic, they said I was too young nothing could be wrong and sent me home without even looking at me. WEIRD!? So now still years later, same problem and I still dont know what it is.

I recently got my nipples pierced and it seems to be a lot less noticeable now but there is still discharge in there sometimes.

Anyone have a clue??

Answer 1

I think the mammogram clinic was very irresponsible for sending you away (as was your doctor for not doing a follow-up).  How stressful this must be for you...

I would 100% seek the advice of another doctor and explain your unsuccessful, inconclusive past experiences.  The fact that you have had this for so long probably means that it is not dangerous, but I would want the peace of mind of a sound medical opinion.

p.s. I had a condition that went undiagnosed for 6 years by 8 doctors.  Everyone kept pawning me off on everyone else.  Just six weeks ago, I sought another opinion and FINALLY was correctly diagnosed.  A painful, irritating problem that I have dealt with for 6 years was cured with a minor 2 hour procedure.  Seek another opinion.  Someone will have the know-how and patience to help you.

Answer 2

    * Mammary duct ectasia. Mammary duct ectasia is one of the most common causes of abnormal nipple discharge. One or more of the ducts beneath your nipple becomes inflamed and clogged with a thick, sticky, green or black substance. Most often, mammary duct ectasia affects women in their 40s and 50s. You can relieve some of your symptoms by applying warm compresses to your breast. Taking aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, may help relieve some symptoms. Also, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to clear up any infection. In some cases, surgery might be necessary to remove the affected duct.

    *

      Intraductal papilloma. Intraductal papilloma is a small, usually noncancerous (benign) growth that projects into a milk duct near your nipple. It occurs most often in women between the ages of 35 and 55. Nobody knows what causes intraductal papillomas, and there are no known risk factors.

      The discharge may be bloody or sticky and usually occurs spontaneously from one duct only, with manipulation of your nipple. You may notice staining or spotting from the discharge on your shirt or the inside of your bra. You may also feel a small lump behind and near the edge of your nipple (areola).

      Your doctor may perform an ultrasound on your areola and the surrounding area to check for a nodule in a duct. Treatment involves surgical removal of the involved duct and examination of the tissue to rule out cancer.

    * Galactorrhea. The nipple discharge associated with galactorrhea is usually white or clear, but it could be yellow or green, and it may leak from one or both b*****s. Galactorrhea occurs because your body is making too much prolactin — the hormone your brain produces to stimulate milk production after you have a baby. This also might happen if you have a hormonal imbalance, such as from taking birth control pills; an underactive thyroid gland; a tumor (prolactinoma) or other disorder of the pituitary gland; or chronic breast stimulation, such as from frequent breast self-exams or sexual activity.

    * Injury. A blunt trauma — for instance, the impact of the steering wheel in a car accident or a hard blow to your chest during sports — can cause nipple discharge in both your b*****s. The nipple discharge results from tissue damage and may be clear, yellow or bloody. The discharge often occurs spontaneously and involves multiple ducts.

    * Abscess. Most common in lactating women, a breast abscess can happen when your nipples become irritated or infected from breast-feeding. A break or crack in your skin can allow bacteria to invade your breast tissue, causing an infection. The nipple discharge may contain pus, and the breast can become red, swollen and warm to the touch. Treatment involves surgically draining the abscess, and your doctor also may prescribe antibiotics.

    * Fibrocystic changes. Fibrocystic breast changes result in lumpy, tender b*****s and can produce a clear, yellow or light green discharge from your nipples. Fibrocystic changes are very common, occurring to varying degrees in about half of all women. Your doctor may run some tests — such as a mammogram or an ultrasound — to make sure the discharge isn't caused by cancer. If the tests show fibrocystic changes as the underlying cause, no further treatment is necessary.

    *

      Breast cancer. Nipple discharge rarely is a sign of breast cancer, but it's possible that discharge may indicate cancer is present within a duct (intraductal breast cancer) or outside the duct (invasive breast cancer). See your doctor promptly for evaluation if your discharge is bloody, spontaneous and occurs in only one breast.

      Another form of cancer — Paget's disease of the breast — also is associated with nipple discharge. Paget's disease of the breast is uncommon, occurring in only 1 percent to 4 percent of all women with breast cancer. Signs and symptoms include itching, burning, redness or scaling of the nipple and areola — the darker colored skin surrounding the nipple. You may also have a bloody discharge from the nipple, and the nipple may appear flattened against your breast. Your doctor can diagnose the disease by doing a biopsy of the affected area of the areola. Standard treatment is removal of the breast (mastectomy), but removal of just the breast tumor (lumpectomy) may sometimes be an option. Your doctor might recommend chemotherapy or radiation after surgery.

THESE ARE POSSIBLE THINGS IT COULD BE