Why does breastfeeding often miss periods?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Dr. Nguyen Anh Tu - Doctor of Obstetric Ultrasound - Prenatal Diagnosis - Obstetrics Department - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.
Menstruation will often be changed in women after giving birth. It is quite normal to miss a period while breastfeeding. Menstruation will return soon for women who are not breastfeeding, and later after for those who are breastfeeding.

1. Why does breastfeeding often miss periods?

Usually after giving birth, a woman's menstrual cycle will change. In non-breastfeeding women, menstruation is usually earlier, and the first period is about 6 weeks postpartum in about 40%, most postpartum women will have their period again 24 weeks later. However, there are still cases of menstruating and then amenorrhea a few months later.
For nursing mothers, menstruation will appear later because prolactin in breast milk changes the activity of the hypothalamic, pituitary and ovarian systems, and delays the menstrual cycle. The timing of the return of menstruation for women after having a baby is quite irregular and different.

2. Is it dangerous to lose your period while breastfeeding?

Postpartum menstrual disorder is a very normal cyclic physiological phenomenon. After giving birth, the mother will have some hormonal changes, especially for nursing mothers, prolactin in milk slows down the menstrual cycle.
However, mothers need to know some menstrual problems after giving birth to be able to detect some abnormalities as well as prevent unwanted pregnancy such as:
Some abnormal signs in the private area such as: uncomfortable itching , bad smell, burning pain during sex,... In the postpartum period, menstrual bleeding will be more and abdominal pain will also be more. During lactation, should be cautious with contraceptive methods and consult a doctor to get the right choice. Women who are not breast-feeding can choose methods of contraception such as: using condoms, calculating the ovulation cycle, birth control pills, etc. A missed period occurs after having a regular period. may be due to pregnancy, need to see a doctor soon to get an ultrasound and check up in time.

Breastfeeding women often lose their periods because the prolactin in milk slows down the menstrual process, more than women who don't breastfeed. However, normality was only assessed when the menstrual irregularity lasted less than 2 years. If after 2 years after giving birth, you still have menstrual irregularities, you should immediately go to a medical facility to be examined, find out the cause and receive timely treatment if you encounter other diseases.

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