Clogged Montgomery Tubercles

[TheConfusedOne]

So this is something I've always been meaning to ask, but kinda kept forgetting.

I'm reading that it's normal for montgomery glands to secrete while nursing. What about when you're not though? I'm 23, never been pregnant and for nearly half my life (pretty much most of my years having periods), my glands are constantly secreting something and getting clogged. They don't secrete to the point where I'm noticing droplets or wet areolas, but they keep getting clogged.

They don't cause me any pain, which is great, but it is irritating to feel something hard in the middle of the montgomery bumps as if they were pimples on my forehead. Everytime I do, I can't help but squeeze every bump there is on my areolas, because more likely than not, pieces will come out, just like pimples. Sometimes pus, sometimes strings of more solid pus, other times hard pellets as if the pus dried up. Infact, whenever I look closely at the bumps before pinching them, they look like blackheads.

I like that they have a purpose to help babies and I plan to nurse 100% when I get them, but in the meantime, all this clogging up is starting to be really annoying. Pinching them is painful and stresses my neck as well. Any tips of preventing further clogging or an easier way to unclog them? I doubt it's healthy for them to not be able to drain their secretions normally due to the clogs...

Thanks

[Sam W]

Hi Confusedone,

If this is something that started around the same time as puberty, than it may just be a quirk of your body. I would suggest not pinching them, just like it's best to not pinch zits. As for how to manage them, the best person to ask about that is a healthcare provider.

[TheConfusedOne]

Hi Sam,

They don't disappear like pimples when left alone though. And some have gotten infected before.

[Sam W]

Ah, okay. If they're at the point where they sometimes get infected, then I would check in with a healthcare provider.

[TheConfusedOne]

I'll ask my GYN next time I see her, though I'm not entirely hopeful that she even knows about them getting clogged... I found out that docs here are quite clueless...

[Mo]

Have you tried hot compresses? That might be able to help clear them up a bit without pinching or poking at them (which runs the risk of causing more infection or irritation).

[TheConfusedOne]

No, I haven't. How do I use them though? Like, just lay them on top of my areolas?

[Mo]

What you'd do is take a clean cloth, washcloth, or thick paper towel, soak it in hot/very warm water (not too hot to have resting on your skin), and just lay it on there until the water cools. If you can do this a few times a day it might help some until you can have your doctor take a look, and it certainly won't hurt.

[TheConfusedOne]

Oh, I never thought a hot cloth can be a hot compress! Thanks, that just might help some!

[Heather]

Just FYI, an OB/GYN is going to know about this issue if they are, in fact, an OB/GYN.