Next Article in Journal
Machine Learning to Identify Interaction of Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms as a Risk Factor for Chronic Drug-Induced Liver Injury
Next Article in Special Issue
Classifying Adenomyosis: Progress and Challenges
Previous Article in Journal
Capillaroscopic Evidence of Microvascular Damage in Volleyball Players
Previous Article in Special Issue
Can New ENZIAN Score 2020 Represent a Staging System Improving MRI Structured Report?
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
IJERPH
Volume 18
Issue 20
10.3390/ijerph182010602
ijerph-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

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

by
Romana Prosperi Porta
1,
Chiara Sangiuliano
2,
Alessandra Cavalli
2,
Laila Cristine Hirose Marques Pereira
2,
Luisa Masciullo
2,
Ilaria Piacenti
3,
Sara Scaramuzzino
2,
Maria Federica Viscardi
2 and
Maria Grazia Porpora
2,*
1
Il Melograno, Maternity and Childbirth Empowerment Centres, 00179 Rome, Italy
2
Department of Maternal and Child Health and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
3
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Santa Maria Della Stella Hospital, 05018 Orvieto, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(20), 10602; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182010602
Submission received: 11 August 2021 / Revised: 5 October 2021 / Accepted: 7 October 2021 / Published: 10 October 2021
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Endometriosis and Adenomyosis Research: Recent Advances and Future Directions)
Browse Figures
Versions Notes

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 endometriosis; breastfeeding; exclusive breastfeeding; acyclic chronic pelvic pain; dysmenorrhea; postpartum amenorrhea

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Prosperi Porta, R.; Sangiuliano, C.; Cavalli, A.; Hirose Marques Pereira, L.C.; Masciullo, L.; Piacenti, I.; Scaramuzzino, S.; Viscardi, M.F.; Porpora, M.G. Effects of Breastfeeding on Endometriosis-Related Pain: A Prospective Observational Study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 10602. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182010602

AMA Style

Prosperi Porta R, Sangiuliano C, Cavalli A, Hirose Marques Pereira LC, Masciullo L, Piacenti I, Scaramuzzino S, Viscardi MF, Porpora MG. Effects of Breastfeeding on Endometriosis-Related Pain: A Prospective Observational Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18(20):10602. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182010602

Chicago/Turabian Style

Prosperi Porta, Romana, Chiara Sangiuliano, Alessandra Cavalli, Laila Cristine Hirose Marques Pereira, Luisa Masciullo, Ilaria Piacenti, Sara Scaramuzzino, Maria Federica Viscardi, and Maria Grazia Porpora. 2021. "Effects of Breastfeeding on Endometriosis-Related Pain: A Prospective Observational Study" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 20: 10602. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182010602

APA Style

Prosperi Porta, R., Sangiuliano, C., Cavalli, A., Hirose Marques Pereira, L. C., Masciullo, L., Piacenti, I., Scaramuzzino, S., Viscardi, M. F., & Porpora, M. G. (2021). Effects of Breastfeeding on Endometriosis-Related Pain: A Prospective Observational Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(20), 10602. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182010602

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop