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What is galactorrhea?

Galactorrhea literally means "flow of milk." It refers to a milky discharge from the nipple of the breast in someone who is not nursing a baby.

  • Galactorrhea may occur in men and women.
  • Galactorrhea usually occurs from both breasts.
  • It is not a disease, but rather a symptom that can have several causes.

Here at Boston Children’s Hospital, the Reproductive Endocrinology and PCOS Program evaluates and treats male and female patients with a wide range of adolescent reproductive and endocrine disorders that affect reproductive function.

Symptoms & Causes

What causes galactorrhea?

Many different things may cause galactorrhea, including:

  • Pregnancy (that may have gone unrecognized)
  • Trauma
  • Surgery

Certain drugs can cause galactorrhea, including:

More serious causes of galactorrhea include:

  • The presence of a small tumor in the pituitary gland (at the base of the brain)
  • Hypothyroidism (low thyroid function)
  • Liver, kidney, or spinal cord problems

Practitioners Who Specialize In This Condition (2)

Ambreen Sonawalla, MD

Ambreen Sonawalla, MD

Attending Physician, Division of Endocrinology
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Svetlana Azova, MD

Svetlana Azova, MD

Assistant Director of Quality Improvement, Division of Endocrinology; Attending Physician, Division of Endocrinology
Instructor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School
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