Breast Milk May Cause Infertility In Women – Gynaecologist

Breast Milk May Cause Infertility In Women – Gynaecologist

Breast Milk. Credit: Getty Images

A Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Rotimi Akinola, has said producing breast milk (lactating) without being pregnant can cause infertility in women.

He noted that the condition, which is known as hyperprolactinemia is the increase of prolactin, the hormone that stimulates breast milk production.

Prof. Akinola said the condition may interfere with ovulation, which is the process of shedding eggs vital for conception.

Speaking with PUNCH Healthwise, the fertility expert noted that some women are battling with infertility because they produce excess breast milk, despite not breastfeeding.

He said, “That is why sometimes, women who are not breastfeeding find it difficult to conceive. When you find out what is wrong with them, you will discover that they are producing breast milk. Sometimes, we have to treat that first for them to get pregnant.”

Prof. Akinola further explained that it is the same reason why nursing mothers use breastfeeding as a form of birth control.

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According to Healthline, an online health portal, breastfeeding reduces chances of becoming pregnant if a mother engages in exclusive breastfeeding.

“The method is only reliable for six months after the delivery. For it to work, you must feed your baby at least every four hours during the day, every six hours at night, and offer no supplement. This means that your baby eats nothing besides your milk,” it stated.

However, Prof. Akinola warned that breastfeeding as a birth control may fail in nursing women who engages in mixed feeding.

“If you are talking about breastfeeding, it depends on the type of breastfeeding that you are doing. When you say exclusive breastfeeding, there is a tendency for you to suction for almost 18 months. But nobody does that kind of breastfeeding now.  So, when you are breastfeeding, the hormone that you use to breastfeed, somehow, suppresses ovulation.

“But there are breakthroughs particularly when you are not breastfeeding that extensively. It is possible that there can be breakthrough ovulations and this can lead to pregnancy,” he said.

Prof. Akinola advised nursing mothers to try modern contraceptive methods and not rely on breastfeeding alone.

Shedding more light on hyperprolactinemia, a fertility specialist, Arvind Vaid in the Hindustan Times, said the condition can make a woman to witness loss of menstrual cycles and libido besides the production of milk.

He said, “There is a rise of prolactin hormone over the normal level. High levels interfere with estrogen production and cause changes in ovulatory cycles leading to irregular menstrual periods. Though not very common, high levels of prolactin in men can lead to loss of impotency, erectile and dysfunction.”

On diagnosis and treatment of hyperprolactinemia, doctors advised that as a first step, a blood test should be carried out to check serum prolactin levels, preferably fasting.

They noted that if the levels are high, further assisting tests may be required.

“In case the prolactin levels are very high, a tumor may be suspected and in that case, MRI of the brain and pituitary glands is advised that uses high frequency radio waves to obtain images of the tissues and the size of tumor,” another fertility expert, Parth Joshi advised.

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