Injected Progestogen and Lactation

Abstract

SummaryNorethisterone ethanate (200 mg every 84 days) and medroxyprogesterone acetate (150 mg every three months) were found to be completely effective in fertility control when started in the puerperium. Neither agent had any ill effect on the amount of milk or the duration of lactation. From the third month onward the three-hourly available milk and the infant weight gain per month were statistically higher in treated groups than in controls. Milk proteins showed a slight decrease in most groups, including the controls, owing to the low-protein diet.No important side effect was produced by these agents other than amenorrhoea.

Contraception and Lactation

“…Boudraoui et al 32 found that immediate administration of DMPA postpartum in 772 lactating women followed from delivery to 1 year postpartum actually resulted in an increase in the amount of milk and an increase in protein concentration. Karim et al 33 found that administration of DMPA 7 days postpartum was not only associated with no adverse effects on the amount of milk production or duration of lactation, but the treatment group showed greater infant weight gain than did the control subjects. A 2002 study showed that breastfeeding women using progestin‐only methods of contraception that were initiated before hospital discharge had no significant differences in their continuation rates of breastfeeding when compared to breastfeeding women who used nonhormonal methods of contraception.…”

Pharmacological Overview of Galactogogues

“…This drug causes hyperplasia of mammary secretory epithelium in macaques [ 114 ] and mice, with its activity being associated with epidermal growth factor (EGF) [ 115 ]. However, there are limited clinical studies in women suggesting that this drug is effective in increasing serum PRL and milk production [ 116 – 118 ]. Medroxyprogesterone acetate biological half-life in human is 40–60 hrs [ 119 ].…”

FFPRHC Guidance (July 2004): Contraceptive choices for breastfeeding women

“…Indeed, studies have suggested an increase in breast milk volume with DMPA use. 49 A prospective observational study found that women using DMPA appeared to breastfeed for significantly longer than controls (21 months for DMPA users compared to 13 months for controls). 26 Use of DMPA also appeared to significantly increase the duration of exclusive breastfeeding (7 months for DMPA users compared to 5 months for controls).…”