Dear Dr. Joshua I’m a 27 year old mother of 4. I had all c-sections when giving birth after my daughter was born in 2001. I had my tubes tied 2 months after having my daughter by Cesarean section. The problem I’m experiencing is that after 5 years I’m leaking what i believe is still a little breast milk. I know that it is not good to have milk coming out still from one of my breast some and my boyfriend is going to be quite alarmed as to if there is a chance that maybe my tubes came apart and that i could be pregnant and still having a period every month, even knowing that there is no 100% chance that my tubes will not come apart because they were only clipped and tied not burned. So i need your medical advice: Should i see my ob/gyn or take a home pregnancy test. What should I do in this situation? Please help, I’m in need of an accurate answer to the best of your ability, medically speaking

Dr. Joshua’s Answer:

Thanks for writing in. If you are having your periods regularly you’re probably not pregnant. However, I didn’t quite understand how long you have been leaking milk — for five years or just since recently? — so it would be a good idea to take that pregnancy test. If that is positive, then that may be the reason for the milk, and if there is period type bleeding and the pregnancy test is positive, you should see your ob/gyn immediately as this could be a sign of imminent miscarriage.

If you are not pregnant, a drop or two of milky discharge could be caused by nipple stimulation, such as foreplay.

If the discharge is stained with blood, then you should urgently visit the doctor as this could be a sign of something serious.

If you are continuously leaking milk, then there is a possibility that you have some hormonal imbalance that’s causing your breasts to produce milk. Some basic hormonal tests such as TSH (thyroid) and prolactin (pituitary adenoma) should be measured.

I recommend that you take the pregnancy test and then see your ob/gyn and explain to him/her the problem. He/she will be able to take it from there.