my tubes were tied in 1996 after my last child was born

Hi Anon,

Nipple discharge in a woman who's not pregnant or breast-feeding isn't necessarily abnormal, but should be evaluated by a doctor.

Sometimes, nipple discharge is a normal part of your breast's function. If that's the case, the discharge might resolve on its own.

Most often, nipple discharge stems from a noncancerous (benign) condition. However, breast cancer is a possibility, especially if:

You are over age 40
You have a lump in your breast
The discharge contains blood
Only one breast is affected

Possible causes of nipple discharge include:

Abscess
Breast cancer
Breast infection
Excessive breast stimulation
Fibroadenoma
Fibrocystic breasts
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
Galactorrhea
Hormone imbalance
Injury or trauma to the breast
Intraductal papilloma
Mammary duct ectasia
Medication use
Paget's disease of the breast
Pregnancy
Prolactinoma

Please see your doctor and keep us updated,

Rosa