• Is breastfeeding reduce the endometriosis? A systematic review
  • sahar ahmadi,1,* marzieh azizi,2
    1. B.Sc. of Midwifery, Nursing and Midwifery School, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.
    2. Ph.D. Student of Reproductive Health, Department of Reproductive Health and Midwifery, School of Nursing & Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.


  • Introduction: Endometriosis is a common gynecological disease that is defined by the growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus, and it seems that hormonal factors play an important role in its development. Breastfeeding due to the effect on the hypothalamus-pituitary axis through the prolactin, can have an important effect on endometriosis. The aim of the current review is to comprehensively evaluate the studies conducted regarding the effect of breastfeeding on the prognosis of endometriosis
  • Methods: In this systematic review, the researchers systematically searched in electronic databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science using the MeSH strategy and the keywords of endometriosis, breastfeeding, and pelvic pain. After the initial screening and evaluation of the searched sources, 12 English studies (8 case-control and 4 cohort studies) were included in the systematic review
  • Results: Reviewing the results of the studies indicated that breastfeeding reduces the symptoms of endometriosis such as dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia and pelvic pain. According to the results of8 studies conducted on infants who were breastfed, endometriosis was reduced in these infants, but the results of two studies were not significant in this regard. Also, the rate of disease recurrence after the operation in women who breastfed was lower than in women who did not breastfeed. The results of two studies showed that amenorrhea caused by breastfeeding in women with endometriosis caused a decrease in the size of the ovarian endometrioma and also caused a delay in the development of endometriosis. Based on the review of the studies, it can be concluded that amenorrhea caused by breastfeeding through reducing the number of ovulations and the prolactin hormone caused by breastfeeding through its effect on the hypothalamus-pituitary axis, causes a decrease in the production of LH-FSH hormones and ultimately lead to a decrease in the risk of developing endometriosis, reducing symptoms, the possibility of recurrence after surgery and reducing the progression of the disease.
  • Conclusion: The results of most conducted studies in this regard showed that breastfeeding and amenorrhea caused by it lead to a decrease in the risk of endometriosis in women. Therefore, healthcare providers, especially midwives, should emphasize on the importance role of breastfeeding on mother's health
  • Keywords: breastfeeding,endometriosis,pelvic pain