Your GP should be able diagnose mastitis after examining your breast and asking about your symptoms.
As mastitis is usually the result of problems with breastfeeding, your GP or midwife may ask you to demonstrate your breastfeeding technique.
You should not feel as if you are being tested or blamed. Breastfeeding can take time and practice to get right and sometimes you may need advice.
If you’re not breastfeeding, your GP will want to rule out other conditions as a breast lump can be a sign of breast cancer.
Breast milk sample
Your GP may decide to take a small sample of your breast milk for testing. This may be necessary if:
- you have severe mastitis
- you have had repeated episodes of mastitis
- antibiotics have been used to treat an infection but they have not improved your condition
Your breast milk can be tested for a bacterial infection and to identify the bacteria responsible. This will help to determine your treatment.
