Galactorrhea is when your breasts produce milk or a milk-like substance when you are not pregnant or breastfeeding a baby. It occurs when you have too much of a hormone called prolactin. Galactorrhea can take place as a result of dysregulation of certain hormones. Hormonal causes most frequently associated with galactorrhea are hyperprolactinemia and thyroid conditions with elevated levels [a] of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) or thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). Galactorrhea is a condition characterized by the inappropriate secretion of milk from the breasts, unrelated to childbirth or nursing. This phenomenon can be distressing and perplexing for those affected, often signaling underlying health issues that require medical attention. Galactorrhea is milky breast discharge found in women who aren’t pregnant or breastfeeding, and in rarer cases, men. It affects as many as one out of every four or five women. It can happen at any age, even after menopause, and even if you’ve never had children.
