Effects of Breastfeeding on Endometriosis-Related Pain: A Prospective Observational Study

Romana Prosperi Porta, Chiara Sangiuliano, Alessandra Cavalli, Laila Cristine Hirose Marques Pereira, Luisa Masciullo, Ilaria Piacenti, Sara Scaramuzzino, Maria Federica Viscardi and Maria Grazia Porpora
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Romana Prosperi Porta: Il Melograno, Maternity and Childbirth Empowerment Centres, 00179 Rome, Italy
Chiara Sangiuliano: Department of Maternal and Child Health and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
Alessandra Cavalli: Department of Maternal and Child Health and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
Laila Cristine Hirose Marques Pereira: Department of Maternal and Child Health and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
Luisa Masciullo: Department of Maternal and Child Health and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
Ilaria Piacenti: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Santa Maria Della Stella Hospital, 05018 Orvieto, Italy
Sara Scaramuzzino: Department of Maternal and Child Health and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
Maria Federica Viscardi: Department of Maternal and Child Health and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
Maria Grazia Porpora: Department of Maternal and Child Health and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 20, 1-12

Abstract: Endometriosis is a gynecological estrogen-dependent disease whose commonest pain symptoms are dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and acyclic chronic pelvic pain (CPP). Hormonal changes occurring during breastfeeding seem to reduce pain and disease recurrence. The aim of this observational prospective study was to assess the effect of breastfeeding on pain and endometriotic lesions in patients with endometriosis and to evaluate a possible correlation between the duration of breastfeeding, postpartum amenorrhea, and pain. Out of 156 pregnant women with endometriosis enrolled, 123 who breastfed were included in the study and were monitored for 2 years after delivery; 96/123 exclusively breastfed for at least 1 month. Mode of delivery, type and duration of breastfeeding, intensity of pain symptoms, and lesion size before pregnancy and during the 24-month follow-up were analyzed. All patients experienced a significant reduction in dysmenorrhea proportional to the duration of breastfeeding. CPP was significantly reduced only in women who exclusively breastfed. No significant improvement in dyspareunia was observed. Ovarian endometriomas were significantly reduced. Therefore, breastfeeding, particularly if exclusive, may cause improvement in dysmenorrhea and CPP proportional to the duration of breastfeeding, as well as a reduction in the size of ovarian endometriomas.

Keywords: endometriosis; breastfeeding; exclusive breastfeeding; acyclic chronic pelvic pain; dysmenorrhea; postpartum amenorrhea (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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