[Correlation between nutrition and fertility]. / Die Wechselbeziehung zwischen Ernahrung und Fruchtbarkeit.

PIP: Human nutrition has an important influence on fertility. Insufficient nutrition leads to longterm lactational amenorrhea, but also to low birthweight, delayed menarche, high morbidity, and consequently high mortality rates. The hormone prolactin is 1 of the most important factors influencing lactational amenorrhea. Ovulation and menstruation during lactation are absent as long as prolactin concentrations are high. Duration, intensity, and frequency of breastfeeding play important roles. Milk quantity and quality change depending on duration and severity of malnutrition. (author's modified)^ieng