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Risk factors

By Mayo Clinic staff

Risk factors for mastitis include:

  • Breast-feeding during the first few weeks after childbirth
  • Sore or cracked nipples, although mastitis can develop without broken skin
  • Using only one position to breast-feed, which may not fully drain your breast
  • Wearing a tightfitting bra, which may restrict milk flow
  • Becoming overly tired (fatigued)
  • Previous bout of mastitis while breast-feeding — if you've experienced mastitis in the past, you're more likely to experience it again
Complications Causes
References
  1. Non-cancerous breast conditions. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webcontent/003180-pdf.pdf. Accessed June 6, 2012.
  2. Dixon JM. Lactational mastitis. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed June 6, 2012.
  3. Spencer JP. Management of mastitis in breastfeeding women. American Family Physician. 2008;78:727.
  4. Cusack L, et al. Lactational mastitis and breast abscess: Diagnosis and management in general practice. Australian Family Physician. 2011;40:976.
  5. Gabbe SG, et al. Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2012. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-4/0/1528/0.html. Accessed June 6, 2012.
  6. FAQ on mastitis. La Leche League International. http://www.llli.org/FAQ/mastitis.html. Accessed June 6, 2012.
DS00678 July 18, 2012

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