We're always amazed to learn about the incredible benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and baby. The latest interesting finding is that breastfeeding even just one child can significantly lower your risk of developing uterine cancer.
A study by Australian researchers at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute found that women who breastfed at least one child for nine months had an 11 percent lower risk of developing uterine cancer than those who had never breastfed.
Uterine cancer or endometrial cancer as it is also known can be difficult to treat and rates of uterine cancer have been increasing over the last few decades, according to Kidspot.
Researchers examined data from 26,000 women who each had at least one child as part of the large-scale study. Almost 9,000 of the participants had uterine cancer.
They found that not only did breastfeeding reduce the risk, the length of time women breastfed for also contributed to lowering their risk.
Mums who breastfed for three to six months lowered their uterine cancer risk by seven percent while those who breastfed for six to nine months were 11 percent less likely to develop the disease.
After nine months of breastfeeding, the reductions levels did not decrease beyond 11 percent but what is really fascinating is that for every additional child who was breastfed, the risk was reduced even further.
For example, a mum who breastfed two children for nine months each was able to cut her risk of developing uterine cancer by a whopping 22 percent.
Dr Susan Jordan, who led the study said the reason why breastfeeding could reduce the risk of uterine cancer is because breastfeeding suppresses ovulation and reduces oestrogen which in turn reduces cell lining division in the uterus.
In the past, breastfeeding has been proven to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer, however, until now there was no proven link between uterine cancer reduction and breastfeeding.
Researchers say they can now "confirm" the validity of the theory.
So, if you are considering breastfeeding your child, this is just one more great reason to give it a go.
