Symptom guide · Women's Health

Nipple Discharge

What nipple discharge can point to, how urgent it is, and who assesses it in the UAE.

Also known as discharge from the nipple

Get checked promptly

This needs a prompt medical assessment

Nipple discharge has many causes and most of them are not cancer — but it is on the list of features that doctors investigate quickly rather than watch. Getting it checked early is what makes the difference.

Go now if any of these apply

A new lump, or a lump that is growing, hard, or fixed in place
A symptom that has persisted for more than three weeks without improving
Unexplained weight loss, drenching night sweats, or persistent fatigue
Bleeding that is unexplained — in stool, urine, when coughing, or after the menopause
A mole or skin lesion that is changing in size, shape, colour, or is bleeding

Book a doctor's appointment within the next few days and say how long the symptom has lasted. Ask specifically whether an urgent referral or a scan is warranted.

Ambulance, if symptoms worsen suddenly · 998

At a glance

Quick facts

Also known as: discharge from the nipple
Body region: Breast
Care area: Women's Health
Conditions linked: 5

Possible causes

Conditions that can cause nipple discharge

Listed alphabetically. This list is not ranked by likelihood.

These figures describe how often each condition causes this symptom — not how likely it is that this symptom is caused by that condition. Most symptoms have a common, harmless explanation.

Treatment by cause

How the causes of nipple discharge are treated

Treatment follows the diagnosis, not the symptom. Each row is a linked condition and a treatment used for it.

If the cause is	Treatment used	Line
Breast Cancer	Lumpectomy	First line
Breast Cancer	Mastectomy	First line
Breast Cancer	Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy	First line
Breast Cancer	Radiotherapy	First line
Breast Cancer	Chemotherapy	First line
Breast Cancer	Hormone Therapy for Cancer	First line
Breast Cancer	HER2-Targeted Therapy	First line
Breast Cancer	Mammogram	First line
Breast Cancer	Breast Biopsy	First line
Paget Disease of the Breast	Mastectomy	First line
Duct Ectasia	Breast Ultrasound	First line
Intraductal Papilloma	Breast Biopsy	First line
Breast Cancer	Breast Reconstruction	Second line
Breast Cancer	Chemotherapy Before Surgery	Second line
Breast Cancer	Chemotherapy After Surgery	Second line
Breast Cancer	Genomic Tumour Profiling	Second line
Breast Cancer	Breast Cancer Gene Expression Test	Second line
Breast Cancer	Fertility Preservation	Second line
Breast Cancer	Follow-Up After Cancer Treatment	Second line
Breast Cancer	Breast MRI	Second line
Paget Disease of the Breast	Lumpectomy	Second line
Intraductal Papilloma	Breast Lump Excision	Second line
Breast Cancer	Lymphoedema Therapy	Third line
Breast Cancer	Clinical Trials	Third line

Find care

Radiology & Imaging in Dubai

Where nipple discharge is assessed depends on what is causing it. These are licensed radiology & imaging listed in Dubai.

Airis Imaging And Diagnostic Cener
First Gulf Real Estate Building, Amman Street, AL NAHDA FIRST, Dubai
+971 52 161 2244
Accepts: Daman, Thiqa, AXA, Cigna +28 more
Airis Imaging And Diagnostic Centre
LEADER, 3 Street 99, DUBAI INVESTMENT PARK FIRST, Dubai
+971 52 161 2244
Accepts: Daman, Thiqa, AXA, Cigna +29 more
Al Diyafa Medical Diagnostic Center
villa, Al Wasl Road, JUMEIRAH FIRST, Dubai
+971 4 345 7100
Accepts: Daman, Thiqa, AXA, Cigna +16 more
Al Etihad Diagnostic Center
Aletihad Diagnostic Center, Alwasl Road, AL SAFFA SECOND, Dubai
+971 4 395 2231
Accepts: AXA, Cigna, MetLife, Allianz Care +17 more

See every listing in Dubai Medical Oncology Radiology Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery

Ordered by verification status and how complete each clinic's public record is, then alphabetically. This is a directory listing, not a ranking — Zavis does not rate or recommend providers.

A factual listing drawn from the DHA, DOH and MOHAP licence registers. It is not a referral, an endorsement, or advice that any of these providers is right for you.

Related symptoms

Other breast symptoms

Find care

Who assesses this in the UAE

These are the specialties that treat the conditions linked to this symptom. Every listed doctor holds a UAE licence.

Questions people ask

Can nipple discharge be a sign of breast cancer?

Yes. Nipple discharge: common among people with breast cancer. It does not work the same way in reverse — for most people with this symptom the cause turns out to be something else, and more common — so it is not a diagnosis on its own.

Can nipple discharge be a sign of paget disease of the breast?

Yes. Nipple discharge: common among people with paget disease of the breast. It does not work the same way in reverse — for most people with this symptom the cause turns out to be something else, and more common — so it is not a diagnosis on its own.

Can nipple discharge be a sign of duct ectasia?

Yes. Nipple discharge: common among people with duct ectasia. It does not work the same way in reverse — for most people with this symptom the cause turns out to be something else, and more common — so it is not a diagnosis on its own.

Can nipple discharge be a sign of intraductal papilloma?

Yes. Nipple discharge: common among people with intraductal papilloma. It does not work the same way in reverse — for most people with this symptom the cause turns out to be something else, and more common — so it is not a diagnosis on its own.

Keep reading

More about nipple discharge

Medical disclaimer. This page is general health information, not medical advice, and it cannot diagnose you. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider about your own symptoms and treatment. In an emergency in the UAE, call 998 for an ambulance.