When it comes breastfeeding, it's generally seen as a wonderful experience [1]. Not only does it bring mom and baby closer together in a shared bond, but it also has some pretty great health benefits [2] and can help you shed some of that baby weight [3] a bit faster. However, it also changes your hormone levels [4], which can pose a greater risk for those with hormonal conditions.
"Prolactin inhibits other hormones involved in the menstrual cycle, like the rise in levels and decline in estrogen and progesterone, which is why women who are breastfeeding tend to not have their period," Dr. Jennifer Landa, MD, [5] an OBGYN and Chief Medical Officer at BodyLogicMD tells POPSUGAR. "Breastfeeding [basically] throws our bodies into a mini menopause. And we know menopause comes with a lot of negative symptoms like hot flashes, insomnia, mood symptoms, vaginal dryness, and more." While it's manageable for most [6], some women may not be able to handle the complications [7] breastfeeding can bring. If you deal with any of the following conditions, you should speak to your doctor to determine if breastfeeding is the right option for you.
Women With Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis doesn't just affect older women. While it's more commonly diagnosed later in life, younger women can get osteoporosis or osteopenia [9], which is a precursor, earlier in life, right around when they might be having a family. "Estrogen is a very important hormone for our bones and when we lose estrogen, we lose bone," says Landa.
"Women with osteoporosis already have lower estrogen levels making their bones that are weak and fragile [more] prone to fractures or breaks," Dr. Sherry Ross, MD, OBGYN [10] and author of She-ology: The Definitive Guide to Women's Intimate Health. Period., tells POPSUGAR. "Prolonged breastfeeding makes your estrogen levels low, putting those with osteoporosis at risk for worsening bone loss."
Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
"More research is needed for the connection between breast feeding and women with PCOS," says Dr. Ross. "It's thought that women with PCOS may have a low milk production due to the hormonal imbalance associated with this condition affecting 5 to 10 percent of women."
Women with PCOS frequently have a lack of ovulation, which is the same issue that's found when breastfeeding, but just for a different reason. "The lack of ovulation in women with PCOS [11] is worrisome because they will frequently produce excess amounts of estrogen which can increase their risk of uterine cancer over time," explains Dr. Landa. "It's important to make sure your symptoms are controlled so that you can have menses at least every 60 days or so to protect your uterus."
Women With Hypothyroidism
Basically, the changes in thyroid hormone can influence your milk supply. "These hormonal changes may affect the dose of thyroid medication taken while breastfeeding," says Dr. Ross. In order to provide enough milk for your baby, speak with your doctor to discuss proper dosages.
Women With STIs
"If you have Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, or HPV, you can safely breastfeed, [and] if you have syphilis or herpes, you can also breastfeed as long as there is no lesion that can be in contact with the baby," says Dr. Ross. "Women with lesions from herpes can transmit herpes to their baby and herpes can be dangerous for infants," adds Dr. Landa. "Moms can breastfeed if there are no active lesions on their breasts and as long as the mom covers any active herpes lesions," she says. If there is active herpes on the breast, avoid breastfeeding and consider "pumping and dumping" to keep the milk supply active until the herpes lesions on the breast clear up.
But moms with HIV shouldn't breastfeed at all. "It is not safe for HIV positive moms to breastfeed due to concern about transmission of HIV to her infant, regardless of her levels of virus in the blood and use of medications to keep the HIV virus levels down," Dr. Landa stresses.