Contraceptive efficacy of lactational amenorrhoea

• Published in: The Lancet (British edition) Vol. 339; no. 8787; pp. 227 - 230
• Main Authors: Kennedy, K.I., Visness, C.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier Ltd 25.01.1992; Lancet; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Actuarial Analysis; Amenorrhea; Biological and medical sciences; Birth control; Breast Feeding; Breastfeeding & lactation; Contraception - methods; Contraceptives; Counseling; Data processing; Data recovery; Dietary supplements; Family Planning Services - methods; Female; Fertility; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Infant; Infant Food; Lactation; Medical research; Medical sciences; Meta-Analysis as Topic; Other methods of contraception. Sterilization; Ovulation; Population; Pregnancy; Probability; Prospective Studies; Time Factors; Weaning; Women; Human; Amenorrhea; Female; Contraception; Breast feeding; Efficiency; Comparative Studies; Health Services; Prospective Studies; Demographic Analysis; Life Tables; Delivery Of Health Care; Research Methodology; Reproduction; Fertility; Fertility Measurements; Population; Demographic Factors; Cross-cultural Comparisons; Pregnancy Rate; Health; Methodological Studies; Postpartum Amenorrhea; Family Planning; Puerperium; Ovulation; Studies; Life Table Method; Developed Countries; Developing Countries; Food Supplementation; Lactation, Prolonged; Primary Health Care; Nutrition Programs; Family Planning, Behavioral Methods; Population Dynamics
• ISSN: 0140-6736; 1474-547X
• DOI: 10.1016/0140-6736(92)90018-X

Pregnancy is rare among breastfeeding women with lactational amenorrhoea. The lactational amenorrhoea method (LAM) is the informed use of breastfeeding as a contraceptive method by a woman who is still amenorrhoeic, and who is not feeding her baby with supplements, for up to 6 months after delivery. Under these three conditions, LAM users are thought to have 98% protection from pregnancy. It can be difficult, however, to determine when supplementation of the baby's diet begins. We have analysed data from nine studies of the recovery of fertility in breastfeeding women to assess the effectiveness of lactational amenorrhoea alone, irrespective of whether supplements have been introduced, as a fertility regulation method post partum. Cumulative probabilities of ovulation during lactational amenorrhoea were 30·9 and 67·3 per 100 women at 6 and 12 months, respectively, compared with 27·2 at 6 months when all three criteria of the LAM were met. Cumulative pregnancy rates during lactational amenorrhoea were 2·9 and 5·9 per 100 women at 6 and 12 months, compared with 0·7 at 6 months for the LAM. The probability of pregnancy during lactational amenorrhoea calculated from these studies is similar to that of other modern contraceptive methods, and it seems reasonable for a woman to rely on lactational amenorrhoea without regard to whether she is fully or partly breastfeeding. So that amenorrhoea and fertility suppression can be maintained, counselling about good breastfeeding and weaning practices remains important.