I asked my live-in OB-Gyn (husband) about this. He said, "I've not heard of
this before... I don't buy it (estrogen link and need to wean)."

His other thoughts -- what type of doc is doing the surgery? He said the
most common type of post-birth fistula is vag-rectal and he thinks a general
surgeon (vs. gyn) is a better choice for this type of surgery because
general surgeons are more familiar working with the rectal muscosa and, in
his words, "rectal tissue is tricky." He wondered if the doc might have made
the statement as sort of an "out" if the outcome isn't fully as desired
related to the "trickiness" of this tissue. He also thought if a real issue
it should be possible to use an estrogen cream or suppository to deliver
estrogen to the tissue involved - thought would probably have little, if
any, effect on BF (if ad lib).

Question for the mom's doc - How does he handle this procedure for the
post-menopausal woman (who is not taking estrogen replacement)?




> Date:    Mon, 28 Jun 2010 23:14:21 -0400
> From:    [log in to unmask]
> Subject: low levels of estrogen and vaginal healing
>
> Hi, everyone:
>
> I am working with a new mom who has developed a fistula as a result of her
> birth. She needs to have surgery, and her doctor is advising her to wean
> (her baby is 6 months old) because he told her that the lower level of
> estrogen present during breastfeeding can inhibit vaginal healing. I've
> never heard this before, and searched the archives but couldn't find
> anything there.
>
> Any information as to the validity of this would be helpful!
>
> Peggy
>
> Peggy Healy, LSW, IBCLC, RLC
> The Art of Breastfeeding, Inc.
> www.artofbreastfeeding.com
> 773-420-7534
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
Karen Gromada
www.karengromada.com/

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