Symptoms A-Z
Yellow Fluid Leaking From The Breast Symptoms & Causes
Understand yellow fluid leaking from the breast symptoms, including 5 causes & common questions.
Updated on
Reviewed by the Buoy Medical Review Team
Yellow Fluid Leaking From The Breast Symptom Checker
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Contents
5 Possible Yellow Fluid Leaking From The Breast Causes
The list below shows results from the use of our quiz by Buoy users who experienced yellow fluid leaking from the breast. This list does not constitute medical advice and may not accurately represent what you have.
High prolactin hormone level
Hyperprolactinemia is a common hormonal disorder in which there are higher than normal levels of prolactin in the blood.
Rarity: Rare
Top Symptoms: headache, vaginal bleeding, irregular period, decreased sex drive, enlargement of breasts
Urgency: Primary care doctor
Physiologic breast discharge
Physiologic breast discharge is any fluid that comes out of the nipple area in your breast.
Rarity: Uncommon
Top Symptoms: nipple discharge, randomly leaking fluid from the breast
Symptoms that never occur with physiologic breast discharge: breast lump
Urgency: Primary care doctor
Yellow Fluid Leaking From The Breast Symptom Checker
Take a quiz to find out why you're having yellow fluid leaking from the breast
Intraductal papilloma
Breast problems such as lumps are very common and often not caused by breast cancer. An intraductal papilloma is such a benign breast lump situated in the milk ducts.
Rarity: Uncommon
Top Symptoms: breast lump, painful breast lump, painless breast lump, white or clear fluid leaking from the breast, nipple lump
Symptoms that never occur with intraductal papilloma: armpit lump
Urgency: Primary care doctor
Prolactinoma
A prolactinoma is abnormal growth of the cells that produce the hormone prolactin in the pituitary gland, a small endocrine gland at the base of the brain. Prolactinoma leads to hyperprolactinemia or excess levels of prolactin in the bloodstream. Prolactinomas can occur in men or women but are more common in women of childbearing age.
Common symptoms in women include amenorrhea (absence of a menstrual period), infertility and nipple discharge. Symptoms in men include decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, infertility, breast tissue enlargement, and rarely, nipple discharge. Additionally, because the prolactinoma occurs at the base of the brain, it can cause headaches or vision changes.
Prolactinomas can be treated with medications to lower the prolactin levels, with surgery to remove the tumor, or with radiation.
Rarity: Rare
Top Symptoms: headache, vision changes, decreased sex drive, impotence, milky fluid leaking from the breast
Urgency: Primary care doctor
Breast cancer
There are several types of breast cancer, depending on the part of the breast where it starts. The most common types are ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), invasive ductal carcinoma and invasive lobular carcinoma.
Women over age 50 with a family history of the disease, and/or certain genetic factors, are most at risk, but anyone can get breast cancer at any age. It is rare in men but does occur.
Symptoms include a lump, thickening, or pain anywhere in the breast or armpit; red, flaky, or irritated breast or nipple skin; nipple discharge; and any area of irregular skin or misshapenness.
Many harmless conditions can cause similar signs, so it is important to see a medical provider about any of these symptoms.
Diagnosis is made through physical examination; imaging such as ultrasound, mammogram, or MRI; and sometimes biopsy.
Treatment involves a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.
The best prevention is a combination of screening mammograms as recommended by the medical provider, and monthly self-examination.
Rarity: Uncommon
Top Symptoms: breast pain, armpit lump, breast mass or retraction, breast lump, nipple discharge
Urgency: Primary care doctor
Questions Your Doctor May Ask About Yellow Fluid Leaking From The Breast
To diagnose this condition, your doctor would likely ask the following questions:
- Has anyone in your family had cancer?
- Do you currently smoke?
- When was your last menstrual period?
- What is the consistency of the discharge?
The above questions are also covered by our A.I. Health Assistant.
If you've answered yes to one or more of these questions
Take a quiz to find out why you're having yellow fluid leaking from the breast
Yellow Fluid Leaking From The Breast Symptom Checker Statistics
People who have experienced yellow fluid leaking from the breast have also experienced:
- 22% Breast Pain
- 6% Nipple Discharge
- 4% Vaginal Discharge
People who have experienced yellow fluid leaking from the breast were most often matched with:
- 33% High Prolactin Hormone Level
- 33% Physiologic Breast Discharge
- 33% Intraductal Papilloma
People who have experienced yellow fluid leaking from the breast had symptoms persist for:
- 38% Over a month
- 27% Less than a day
- 19% Less than a week
Source: Aggregated and anonymized results from visits to the Buoy AI health assistant (check it out by clicking on “Take Quiz”).
Yellow Fluid Leaking From The Breast Symptom Checker
Take a quiz to find out why you're having yellow fluid leaking from the breast