What’s causing this embarrassing leak?

Q:

Last week my breasts started making milk and it soaked through my bra several times. I’m well past breast-feeding stage—my youngest child is 23! Except for having high blood pressure, I’m healthy otherwise. What’s going on?

A:

If you’re taking blood pressure meds, that may be the culprit. A number of prescription drugs (including antihypertensives, antidepressants and some heartburn medications) can raise levels of prolactin, the hormone behind lactation. In fact, some BP meds have been shown to double levels, triggering the milky discharge you’re seeing.

It’s key to keep taking your medicine until you see the doctor who prescribed it, but I advise making an appointment as soon as possible. Your doctor may order blood tests to rule out other causes of breast discharge, such as thyroid or pituitary imbalances. And if she finds that the medication is the culprit, switching you to a different drug can eliminate the discharge in two to four weeks. Until then, slipping nursing pads in your bra can protect clothing.

A You’re talking about a TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) device, and yes, studies show the mild electrical pulses they deliver dampen pain signals to reduce menstrual cramps by up to 50 percent.

And while your symptoms are quite common (blame hormone fluctuations during perimenopause, which worsen menstrual pain), I suggest seeing your gynecologist before investing in a TENS device, which can cost $200 for prescription units and $40 and up for over-thecounter models. She can rule out problems like fibroids or ovarian cysts that may be responsible for your worsening pain, and discuss whether TENS is an option for you. If so, she may be able to prescribe a unit (some insurance companies cover the devices) or suggest an overthe-counter model like the Omron Pocket Pain Pro, at drugstores.