Lowers Risk of Ovarian and Breast Cancer
Women are at risk of developing ovarian and breast cancer regardless of age. In addition, studies show that women with ovarian cancer also have an increased possibility of contracting breast cancer. In connection, breastfeeding may lower the risk of developing breast cancer because the more prolonged the mother breastfeeds, the more the risk is reduced.
Breastfeeding women will experience hormonal changes during lactation that may delay the return of menstrual periods. Additionally, it will cause a reduction in a woman’s lifetime exposure to hormones like estrogen made by ovaries which can promote breast cancer cell growth.
Additionally, breastfeeding results in the shedding of breast tissue which helps remove cells with possible DNA damage, thus helping to reduce the probability of developing breast cancer.
Breastfeeding may also help in lowering the risk of ovarian cancer by preventing ovulation. After giving birth, most women will not start ovulating until at least six weeks. Although breastfeeding typically suppresses the onset of ovulation, depending on the regularity and intensity of breastfeeding, it may take several months or over a year before a mother regains fertility. In addition, the less a woman ovulates, the less exposure she has to estrogen and other abnormal cells that could become cancerous.
