Milk duct ectasia: what to know

A widened duct may collect thicker fluid and irritate nearby tissue. Some people notice green, yellow, brown, or clear nipple discharge; others have nipple tenderness, a pulled-in nipple, or a firm area behind it. The change can affect one or several ducts and may settle without treatment. Because discharge or a new breast change has more than one possible cause, a clinician may examine both breasts and ask whether the discharge is spontaneous, one-sided, or blood-stained.

Keep the area clean and avoid repeatedly squeezing the nipple to check for discharge, as this can maintain irritation. Record the colour and whether fluid appears without pressure. A clinician may recommend a breast ultrasound to look at the duct and surrounding tissue, particularly when there is a lump, focal tenderness, or persistent discharge. Treatment depends on the findings; antibiotics are not needed for every case, and surgery is considered only in selected situations.

Arrange prompt assessment for spontaneous discharge, blood-stained fluid, a new lump, nipple inversion, skin dimpling, or persistent one-sided symptoms. Seek urgent help if the breast becomes hot and increasingly red with fever or you feel acutely unwell. A new breast change should be checked even when discomfort is mild, because appearance and symptoms cannot identify the cause on their own.

Ask what may be causing the discharge, whether an ultrasound is appropriate, and what findings would require follow-up. Ask how to monitor the area and when to return if the discharge or lump changes.