Benign breast disease and associated factors in women attending in a public hospital.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to present the main features of women with benign breast disease (BBD) and the factors associated with these diseases. Our study was a case-control, masked and hospital-based study. Sociodemographic, clinical and gynecological, as well as obstetrical, anthropometric and lifestyle data were collected from the BBD-diagnosed women and controls. Most participants were diagnosed with fibroadenoma. The three protective factors against the development of BBD included parity, late menarche and breastfeeding. In general, these major protective effects are connected to the endogenous hormone levels and main reproductive events, which are more difficult factors to control. The type of benign breast disease, age of diagnosis, degree of education and woman's age seem to contribute to this relationship.