LACTATION INFERTILITY

SYMPTOMS

Lactation infertility is a traditional family planning method based on the natural effect of breastfeeding on fertility. 

The lactational amenorrhea method (LAM) requires three conditions which should be met:

• The lactating mother’s menstruation has not returned yet.
• The baby is exclusively or almost-exclusively breastfed day and night.
• The baby is below six (6) months old. 

The two types of breastfeeding are almost-exclusive and exclusive breastfeeding. In exclusive breastfeeding, the infant receives no other liquid or food, not even water except for breast milk. In almost-exclusive breastfeeding, the babies receive vitamins, water, juice, or other nutrients once in a while in addition to breast milk.

Breastfeeding mainly works in stopping the release of eggs from the ovaries. Periodic breastfeeding temporarily stops the release of the natural hormones that causes ovulation.

TREATMENT

Health experts may exhibit concern that an all-out breastfeeding woman can get pregnant before returning first menstruation. However, there are several grounds why pregnancy is not probable, especially during the initial postpartum period.

Researchers have recognized that the possibility of the early return of ovulation and menstruation is very low in postpartum women who breastfeed rigorously. Still, some women who do breastfeed intensively may have their menstruations return and ovulate during the first months postpartum. And, in some of these instances, ovulation may precede menstruation.

However, research has also exhibited that the luteal stage of these initial cycles is often defective. A defective luteal phase is distinguished by progesterone production that is not enough to develop the uterus and sustain a pregnancy. Studies also show that less than two percent of women who breastfeed intensively during the first couple months postpartum experience a sufficient luteal stage resulting pregnancy.

This pattern changes during the later postpartum stage. Women are less likely to be fully or nearly-fully breastfeeding their babies as needed for LAM’s effective use after six months postpartum. Correspondingly, women are presumed to experience the return of menstruation and ovulation when breastfeeding is less intensive. Researchers have also observed that as the time postpartum grows, ovulation is more likely to follow menstruations. Additionally, the possibility of experiencing a luteal phase defect in the first ovulatory cycle decreases.

These are significant considerations for breastfeeding women who wanted to depend on infertility’s natural condition during the later postpartum stage. As time postpartum grows, it is essential to maintain an intensive breastfeeding pattern. Women who fully or nearly fully breastfeed and remain amenorrheic, and have a high potency of protection from pregnancy are late in the postpartum stage.