Does breastfeeding reduce the risk of cervical cancer?

The Link Between Breastfeeding and Cervical Cancer Risk
Breastfeeding has long been celebrated for its numerous health benefits for both mothers and infants. Recent studies have begun to explore its potential role in reducing the risk of various cancers, including cervical cancer. While the connection is not as extensively documented as that with breast cancer, emerging research suggests that breastfeeding may indeed play a protective role against cervical cancer.
Understanding the Research
A significant study conducted among Korean women found that both breastfeeding experience and the duration of breastfeeding were associated with a reduced risk of cervical cancer. Specifically, women who breastfed for more than 36 months exhibited a lower prevalence of cervical cancer compared to those who did not breastfeed or breastfed for shorter periods. This finding aligns with the broader understanding that breastfeeding can induce hormonal changes in women, which may contribute to a decreased risk of certain cancers.
Hormonal Changes and Cancer Risk
The protective effect of breastfeeding against cancer is thought to stem from hormonal, immunological, and physiological changes that occur during lactation. When a woman breastfeeds, her body experiences a delay in the return of menstrual periods, which reduces her lifetime exposure to hormones such as estrogen. Elevated levels of estrogen have been linked to an increased risk of various cancers, including breast and ovarian cancers. By lowering estrogen exposure, breastfeeding may similarly reduce the risk of cervical cancer.
Broader Implications
While the evidence linking breastfeeding directly to a reduced risk of cervical cancer is still developing, the existing studies highlight a promising area of research. The potential for breastfeeding to lower cancer risk adds to the already substantial list of benefits associated with this natural practice. It underscores the importance of promoting breastfeeding as a public health measure, not only for its immediate benefits to infant health but also for its long-term implications for maternal health.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while more research is needed to fully understand the relationship between breastfeeding and cervical cancer risk, current findings suggest that breastfeeding may offer protective benefits. As health organizations continue to advocate for breastfeeding, the potential cancer-preventive effects could serve as an additional incentive for mothers to choose this path. The interplay between breastfeeding and cancer risk is a vital area of study that could lead to significant advancements in women’s health.

What decreases the risk of cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer is highly preventable and highly curable if caught early. Nearly all cervical cancers could be prevented by HPV vaccination, routine cervical cancer screening, and appropriate follow-up treatment when needed.

Can HPV be passed through breastfeeding?

More recent research also reports that it’s unlikely that HPV passes to a child through breastfeeding. Researchers in a 2011 study concluded that the likelihood of a mother passing HPV to her child through breast milk is low. And a 2017 study found no evidence of transmission of HPV from mother to child.

Are breastfed babies less likely to develop cancer?

Lactation protects the mother against breast cancer. Having been breastfed protects children against excess weight gain and overweight and obesity. In turn, this acts to reduce the risk of those cancers for which weight gain and overweight and obesity are a cause.

What type of cancer does breastfeeding prevent?

The risk of breast cancer is reduced by 4.3% for every 12 months of breastfeeding, this is in addition to the 7.0% decrease in risk observed for each birth. Breastfeeding reduces the risk of Triple‐Negative Breast Cancer (20%) and in carriers of BRCA1 mutations (22–55%).

What does breastfeeding do to your cervix?

All women experience uterine contractions during breastfeeding, although they are usually too mild to be noticed. Nipple stimulation can be used to ripen the cervix when a woman is at term, and can also augment labor after it is underway.

What are 2 ways to prevent cervical cancer?

More steps to help prevent cervical cancer
These things may also help lower your risk for cervical cancer: Don’t smoke. Use condoms during sex.

What does breastfeeding reduce the risk of for the mother?

Research shows breastfeeding beyond one year can help lower your risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes.

What causes 90% of cervical cancer?

Persistent HPV infection of the cervix (the lower part of the uterus or womb, which opens into the vagina – also called the birth canal) if left untreated, causes 95% of cervical cancers.

How does breastfeeding prevent cervical cancer?

“There are a couple of ways breastfeeding reduces your risk for cancer,” says Bevers. “One is that it can delay ovulation and reduce your lifetime exposure to estrogen.

Why can’t you have a mammogram while breastfeeding?

For women who are pregnant or lactating, hormones can change breast density and size, which could limit the clinical examination, mimic pathology and obscure mammographic findings.