Is there any association between infertility and breast cancer?
Breast cancer is the extra growth of tissues which grow abnormally faster than the normal cells.
It is the commonest cancer among women in the world and I want to enlighten you about a few points regarding infertility and breast cancer.
Book an Appointment with Fertility Specialist Dr Arockia Virgin Fernando for fertility concerns.
There has definitely been an association between breast cancer and late pregnancies or no pregnancies.
Infertility causes a delay in pregnancy or there might be no full term pregnancy at all and no breastfeeding, which increases the risk for breast cancer. Pregnancy and breastfeeding is the time when hormones are under check, which is beneficial. Progesterone hormone is beneficial which is more during pregnancy.
At least one pregnancy before 30 yrs can reduce the risk.
The other risk factors are:
- Family history
- Obesity
- Inactive life without exercises
- Alcohol and smoking
- Excessive hormone medications for more than 5 yrs without doctor’s supervision.
- Early puberty and late menopause
- Late pregnancy or no pregnancy in fact is not very healthy. Yes of course everyone has a different perspective of life but this is the hard truth.
So treating infertility plays a major role in reducing the risk of breast cancer and I am happy doing it.
It is advisable to meet a fertility expert to discuss about your fertility potential especially if there is a family history of breast cancer, ovarian cancer and colon cancer as these cancers are related to each other genetically.
Understanding how long to delay pregnancies is very important for each woman as it differs from one person to the other. Please do not generalize facts.
Lifestyle modification like exercises, weight loss, healthy balanced diet, no smoking and reduced alcohol will keep you going without major issues. This is a known facts but I take this opportunity to insist on this fact as this is Pinctober, October is breast cancer awareness month. Live life to the fullest.
