Anyone who has spent some time getting physical between the sheets knows sex isn’t the cleanest activity. Between the saliva, arousal sweat, and cum, a post-coitous towel down is basically a requirement. But as messy as it may be, people rarely complain about the fluid that accompanies a quality shag. That is, until it’s leaking from your breasts. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but if you’ve had a baby, are expecting, or simply have boobs, there is a chance your breasts will leak during sex.
“Breasts are machines and serve one primary purpose — to produce milk,” says OB-GYN Dr. Idries Abdur-Rahman. Abdur-Rahman says oxytocin is to blame for them leaking, because it’s responsible for a lot of things that happen in the human body, especially during pregnancy. So if you find your breasts are a bit leaky while you’re romping around with your partner, don’t panic. There’s nothing to worry about — it’s just what happens when the oxytocin hormone gets involved. And don’t get embarrassed either. It’s a totally normal thing that happens with the human body, and shouldn’t be treated as anything else. Here’s what to know about your leaky breasts during sex, and what it all means.
Leaky breasts when you’re pregnant
Remember all that hormone talk? Let’s circle back to that. “Oxytocin is the primary hormone involved in breastfeeding, because it causes contractions in the muscle cells that surround the milk glands, forcing the release of milk,” Abdur-Rahman says. “Oxytocin is also called the love hormone because it is released in abundance during sex and orgasm, which stimulates closer bonding.”
But, that hormone also doesn’t know why it’s being released. So when it releases during sex, it can stimulate the release of breast milk or colostrum at the same time. Hence: leaky breasts during sex.
Leaky breasts when you’re not pregnant
What if you’re no longer pregnant and are no longer breastfeeding your baby? What would cause leakage then? “Women who are not pregnant can still experience leakage from the breasts. If they’ve breastfed in the past, they can still experience intermittent lactation even after weaning their baby,” Abdur-Rahman says. Even after weaning, it can take up to six months for your breasts to stop lactating completely.
When leaky breasts may be a health issue
While not common, leakage from the breasts can be indicative of a medical issue, says Abdur-Rahman, the most common of which is called a prolactinoma. It’s a benign tumor in your pituitary gland, which is the part of the brain where the hormone prolactin is produced. Leaking boobs in this instance would make sense, since prolactin is the hormone that stimulates the production of breast milk.
A tumor in the pituitary gland can cause women to produce breast milk whether or not they’re pregnant or postpartum. In addition to prolactinomas, certain tumors of the breast can cause nipple discharge, so be sure to get checked out if this is happening, Abdur-Rahman says. “Anytime a woman experiences leakage from the breasts not related to pregnancy or breastfeeding, it should be further evaluated,” he says.
Another condition you could be suffering from is galactorrhea, which often occurs when breast tissue becomes incredibly sensitive to prolactin, according to Mayo Clinic. Prolactin is the hormone responsible for producing breast milk, but can also be the result of the overstimulation of breasts during sex. Thanks a lot, boob play! Galactorrhea affects 20 to 25% of women in the United States, according to The American Academy of Family Physicians. Despite the frequency, doctors have yet to find a cure.
How to handle leaky boobs
“Unfortunately, the best way to address leakage from the breasts is time and reduced breast stimulation,” Abdur-Rahman says. So, sorry to anyone who really enjoys boob play as part of sex.
If you’re pregnant and actively breastfeeding, however, there’s nothing you can do to stop leakage during sex, Abdur-Rahman says. “I advise all of my patients to wear a bra with nursing pads or to just incorporate the leakage into foreplay and the act of intercourse — hey, breast milk can provide health benefits to adults as well.”
But after weaning, you should also minimize breast stimulation, as stimulation just leads to more milk production. “This means wearing a well-fitted bra, reducing touching of the breasts, and minimizing water stimulation of the breasts when showering,” Abdur-Rahman says.
Speaking of showering, another way you can try to stay clean from leaking breast milk when having sex is to have sex in the shower. Any bodily fluids will be way less noticeable that way. You can also try nursing or pumping before sex, or simply keeping a towel close by to wipe off.
Expert:
Dr. Idries Abdur-Rahman, M.D., OB-GYN, author of Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Pregnancy (But Were Too Afraid or Embarrassed to Ask)
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