New Here Trying To Get Some Answers Concerned About Clear Discharge

[madden20]

Hi all so just a little about me I'm 22 year old male that's had a lump in the left nipple since the beginning of November. I went in mid November to the doctor and said it was gynecomastia. However as time went on it was not getting any better and I also started getting a clear discharge from multiple areas on the nipple if I Squeeze it a little. So I just went in for a physical and told the doctor about this and said it's a good idea to further investigate it so I had bloodwork done which should be in by Friday and an ultrasound of my left breast done next Thursday. I'm pretty scared right now because I have a lot of health anxiety as it is and my pulse and blood pressure was high at the doctor yesterday. Temperature was normal though.

These are my symptoms currently

Lump in left breast right side of it seems slightly tender.

Noticeable difference in breast size when I look in the mirror

Clear nipple discharge from multiple spots on left nipple


Also when I was 14 I had a lump in this same nipple however it was not as big and it went away on its own after about 6 to 9 months. I'm just really concerned that they want to get an ultrasound done anyone possibly have any advice or answers for me?

[Bobby - LAgyne]

Welcome to the forum! 

I think you and your dr should have a better understanding once the blood work results are in.  And I hope the blood work included hormones.

I remember many years ago, some drops of 'milk' would come out if I squeezed the nipples and breast. They were tender too. Unfortunately, my gyne never went away.

The best thing to do is not jump into surgery at this point.  I think you should wait (at least 1-2 years?) until they figure out and address all the underlying causes and opt for the surgery only when 1) it doesn't go away by itself 2) it is stable and haven't grown for at least 1-2 years.  Just be patient.

Good luck!
---Bobby

[madden20]

Welcome to the forum! 

I think you and your dr should have a better understanding once the blood work results are in.  And I hope the blood work included hormones.

I remember many years ago, some drops of 'milk' would come out if I squeezed the nipples and breast. They were tender too. Unfortunately, my gyne never went away.

The best thing to do is not jump into surgery at this point.  I think you should wait (at least 1-2 years?) until they figure out and address all the underlying causes and opt for the surgery only when 1) it doesn't go away by itself 2) it is stable and haven't grown for at least 1-2 years.  Just be patient.

Good luck!
---Bobby

Hi thank you and yes they are testing hormone levels I had to get like 6 different tubes of blood drawn yesterday. Just very frustrating with me being a hypochondriac and thinking it's the worst (BC).

[madden20]

As far as the nipple discharge goes should I be worrisome because I heard that it is typically not seen with gyno but I only get it if I give kind of a decent squeeze to it. I also can get some out of the right nipple but have to give a good effort. The discharge looks clearish to me but not crystal clear it's got a little cloudiness to it. Like I said I'm getting the ultrasound a week from tomorrow and I should know bloodwork results by Friday. Just kind of panicked.

[madden20]

Ok I'm really panicking right now I had a small white sore on it like dot size and I was just trying to brush it off and get it off and its bleeding just slightly. Not dripping blood just looks like I picked a scab. It's so small it's barely noticeable.

[madden20]

I apologize I keep posting on my thread but new things keep happening. Under that little sore was hair and it looks just like a nipple hair. Is there anyway possible this is related to the lump in my nipple? I have had many ingrown hairs on my head and theyve given me fluid filled cysts on the top of my head but the lumps in my nipple don't feel like cysts.

[madden20]

One final post for tonight, I'm sorry I keep posting but seems like that sore I picked has already healed itself and I have that white dry skin looking thing to the right of my left nipple head.  Still have the milky/clear looking discharge as well.  When I press the center of my nipple I have a tender/tingling feeling if it is pressed.  I will post a picture tomorrow if that would probably do some help.

[madden20]

This is my picture

[madden20]

[gyno.postop]

I strongly suggest not to visit doctors until you have some thing very major. Surgery or Liposuction will ruin your life. I have gone through and feeling that major blunder in my life. so please try to live with it.

[Dr. Elliot Jacobs]

Your left side is definitely larger than the right side -- but there may be some enlargement on the right side as well.

Nipple discharge is not unusual from a breast-- that is what it is biologically designed to do.  Clear or milky or cloudy discharge is normal -- but a bloody discharge (which you do not have) is not normal.

You should try to determine how long your breasts have been enlarged -- is it a very recent change or have you had it and perhaps not noticed it for a few years.

Would strongly recommend a complete endocrine workup by an endocrinologist.  Also, review with your physician all medications that you may be on for possible side effects which could produce gynecomastia.  Would also be aware than any supplements from a food store may also cause some breast enlargement.

IF your chest has been relatively stable for two or more years, if all your hormones check out and if you have not been taking any medications, supplements, anabolic steroids, etc, then one could presume that your situation is "idiopathic" (which means we really don't know why it occurred) and then you are in a position to decide your next move -- surgery or not.

If you opt for no surgery, then you can improve your appearance by wearing a snug compression garment under your clothing.  It works -- but is somewhat limiting when you are in warm weather or when you just want to shed all your tops and go swimming at the beach or pool.

If you opt for surgery, then it is best to take your time, do your research and find a gyne specialist in your area for a consultation and possible surgery.  If there is no specialist in your area, then consider traveling.

Best of luck!

Dr Jacobs

[madden20]

Hi Dr. Jacobs thank you so much for your reply that helps ease me a little. I'm not really worried about being disfigured or anything I can live with that. My main concern was having BC since I suffer from health anxiety as long as I know it's not serious I can live with the enlarged breasts. My right side seems to be normal it's the left where the problem. When I was very young around 13 or 14 I had a lump under the left nipple also but it was not as big as the one currently and didn't blow my left side up like this time. It did resolve and for this incidence it just started in November.

The only medicine I was on was a generic anti depressant but I have been off of it since September so I don't think that was the cause. I've never used steroids or anything along those lines.  I did get blood drawn last Tuesday to check everything out so I will know probably by Tuesday what the results are and then I'm having the ultrasound done this Thursday on my left breast. Is that unusual for a doctor to want that or is that just for precautionary reasons because they're not all that familiar with stuff like this?