Keywords
Biology
Contraception
Contraceptive Agents
Contraceptive Agents
Female
Estrogens
Family Planning
Family Planning Programs
Lactation
Literature Review
Maternal Physiology
Physiology
Summary Report
MeSH Terms
Breast Feeding
Contraceptive Agents, Female/pharmacology
Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal/pharmacology
Estradiol Congeners/pharmacology
Female
Humans
Lactation/drug effects
Milk, Human/analysis,drug effects
Pregnancy
Progesterone Congeners/pharmacology
Chemicals
Contraceptive Agents, Female
Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal
Estradiol Congeners
Progesterone Congeners
Authors & Affiliations
1 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Hull V J
Other Abstracts
eng
Findings and shortcomings of several articles which review clinical studies of lactation are discussed, and the main recommendations for family planning programs that have emerged from them are summarized. The basic recommendation has been that hormonal preparations containing estrogen should be avoided during either the early or the entire period of lactation. The largest number of studies have considered milk yield and establishment and maintenance of lactation
aspects of these studies discussed in this article include cultural and social factors
sample characteristics and size
use of control groups, placebos, and double blind design
the hormone preparations used
timing of hormone administration
duration of treatment and observation
basis for comparison and analytical measures
and other influences. Despite the number and diversity of variables involved and the pitfalls in studying them, the balance of evidence appears to support the conclusion that preparations containing estrogen are more often implicated in suppression of lactation than are progestogen-only preparations. Most reviews which consider milk quality conclude that evidence is conflicting but that any adverse affects are trivial, although the need for further research is noted, particularly concerning the effects of possible changes in milk composition on the infant. Very little research has been reported on the transfer of steroids to the infant via breastmilk. Future research should include thorough evaluation of existing studies
further research into physiological aspects of lactation and hormonal contraception
review of existing data on lactation problems from family planning programs
and clinical studies that correct or avoid the methodological shortcomings of earlier research.
