Waking up to a wet spot on your pillow that isn't sweat or tears can be terrifying. If you are not pregnant or breastfeeding, seeing milky fluid leak from your nipples is confusing, embarrassing, and often scary. This condition, known as galactorrhea, is spontaneous milky nipple discharge occurring in individuals who are not pregnant or breastfeeding. It affects roughly 20-25% of women at some point in their lives. While it sounds alarming, it is rarely cancer. Instead, it is usually a signal that your brain’s pituitary gland is producing too much of a hormone called prolactin. Understanding this link is the first step toward fixing the problem, whether it’s stopping the leakage or restoring your ability to conceive.
