Lactation is associated with a very high metabolic cost. Lactational amenorrhoea method of contraception of one of the natural methods of contraception. Studies show lam to be 98% effective, as effective as the pill and other modern methods, when used according to guidelines. The lactational amenorrhoea method lam is a contraceptive. Lactational amenorrhea is the temporary absence of ovulation and menstrual bleeding experienced after childbirth while a woman is exclusively breastfeeding. The lactational amenorrhea method lam for postpartum contraceptionby miriam h labbok, md, mph, facpm, ibclc, fabmthe lactational amenorrhea method, known as lam, is part of the world health organizations list of accepted and effective methods of family planning.
The lactational amenorrhea method, or lam, is also known as continuous breastfeeding. The lactational amenorrhea method lam is considered a sufficient criterion for how to. If you are new to the site, please create an account. It is estimated that about 40% of pregnancies in the world are unintended and that the major part of these are unwanted. Lam the lactational amenorrhea method a method designed by nature and used by breastfeeding mothers world wide, to postpone pregnancy many women, coming towards the end of their pregnancy, find that while they are eagerly awaiting the birth of the baby, yet there are pangs of regret that they will. Who can use the lactational amenorrhea method family. When a woman breastfeeds, the stimulation of the nipple by the infants suckling sends nerve impulses to the mothers hypothalamus, which. Lactational amenorrhea method a family planning method. Read the 30 days to slow the spread guidance pdf version en espanol pdf. Mechanisms underlying lactational amenorrhea are incompletely understood. There are several advantages of the lactational amenorrhea method, and providers should explain these to clients. The lactational amenorrhea method lam is a modern, temporary family planning method that has been developed as a tool to help support both breastfeeding and family planning use. Lactational amenorrhea method fact sheet family planning. As with any contraceptive method, a couple must consider advantages and disadvantages and be free to choose the method that best meets their needs.
Breastfeeding as birth control information about lam. To evaluate the potential for lactational amenorrhoea method lam and passive lam among women with children below 6 months in the 2003 egypt demographic health survey 2003 edhs, to assess the determinants of amenorrhea, and to examine the association of exclusive breastfeeding and amenorrhea with using modern contraceptive methods among nursing mothers of children below 2 years. A postpartum contraceptive choice for women who breastfeed. Suppression of normal cyclic hormonal changes resulting from breastfeeding. The world health organization multinational study of. Georgetown university for lactational amenorrhea method. Lactational amenorrhoea and modern contraceptives use. Lam lactational amenorrhea method you only breastfeed your baby 2 no other food or liquid is given no menstrual bleeding since your 1 baby was born. The lam is a special fabm that can be used by postpartum, breastfeeding mothers. The same increase in length was found in multiparous women as opposed to primiparous. Even after the resumption of menses, 50% of initial cycles are anovulatory.
Lactational amenorrhea method definition of lactational. The entire comprehensive training curriculum was used to train service providers in 1995 under this cooperative project which included pathfinder international, ipas, avsc international, and the. The lactational amenorrhea method lam is a shortterm family planning method based on the natural effect of breastfeeding on fertility. Lactational amenorrhea method an overview sciencedirect topics. The lactational amenorrhea method lam for postpartum. The lactational amenorrhea method does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases stds, including human immunodeficiency virus hiv, and women using this method should be counseled that consistent and correct use of the male latex condom reduces the risk for transmission of hiv and other stds. This is caused by an alteration of hormone levels in the mother due to the suckling of the nipples by the infant. A protocol was designed at the institute for reproductive health irh, department of obstetrics and gynecology, georgetown university medical center, a world health. The lactational amenorrhoea method lam is a contraceptive method where the mother is informed and supported how to use breastfeeding for contraception. Additionally, the data are used to test new constructs for improvement of method criteria. A family planning method for breastfeeding women lam can help you prevent pregnancy if you are breastfeeding and meet all these criteria.
Postpartum contraception has been shown to be protective against preterm birth 10. Multicenter study of the lactational amenorrhea method lam iii. Out of 100 women who use lam during the first six months following childbirth, one to two of them may become pregnant. This cycle of events is sometimes modified, as when a woman becomes pregnant or breastfeeds. Has hiv infection see the lactational amenorrhea method for women with hiv is using certain medications during breastfeeding including moodaltering drugs, reserpine, ergotamine, antimetabolites, cyclosporine, high doses of corticosteroids, bromocriptine. The advent of postpartum ovulation and menses is related to the amount of time the mother breastfeeds. Lactational amenorrhea method lam is a natural and healthy fertility awareness based method fabm of family planning. Lam only works if you exclusively nurse your baby on demand whenever your baby wants to nurse on your breast. Lactational amenorrhea method lam physiology of lactational amenorrhea mechanism of action. Furthermore, the habit of requiring menses or a pregnancy test may be so strong that even trained family planning providers who recommend the lactational amenorrhea method may not trust it as a criterion for ruling out pregnancy. Though lactational amenorrhea is a very effective method of contraception in the first 6 months postpartum 11 and breastfeeding rates in this time period are very high in malawian and other subsaharan african populations 12. Pdf it is well accepted that breastfeeding contributes significantly to child survival and child nutrition. Developed by fsrhs clinical effectiveness unit, contraception after pregnancy provides healthcare professionals with guidance on how and when contraceptive information and methods should be provided before.
The older a woman was, the longer period of lactational amenorrhea she demonstrated. Lactational amenorrhoea method for family planning ncbi. Many women find lam to be appealing because it is safe, free, and effective. This issue focuses on the lactational amenorrhea method lam and is addressed to the child survival and family planning health care provider. Lactational amenorrhoea method for family planning the lactational amenorrhoea method lam is a contraceptive method where the mother is informed and suppor ted how to use breastfeeding for.
This patient education fact sheet summarizes breastfeeding as a birth control method. In search of seamless treansition to postlactational. Lactational amenorrhea method lam frequently asked. The use of lactational amenorrhea method lam can be seen across the world. The act of breastfeeding, particularly exclusive breastfeeding, suppresses the release of hormones that are necessary for ovulation. What is lactational amenorrhea method for birth control. Fsrh publishes its new guideline contraception after pregnancy, endorsed by rcgp, rcog, rcn and rcm. Khella ak, fahim hi, issa ah, sokal dc, gadalla ma. This is a natural option to prevent pregnancy after you have given birth. The time between feedings should not be longer than 4 hours during the day or 6 hours at night. About 2 out of 100 people who use breastfeeding as birth control get pregnant.
Lactational amenorrhea method lam is a temporary method of birth control based on the natural way the body prevents ovulation when a woman is breastfeeding. Cdc lactational amenorrhea method usmec reproductive. The lactational amenorrhea method of contraception is the intentional use of exclusive breastfeeding to reduce the risk of pregnancy during the first 6 months following birth. The lactational amenorrhea method lam is a modern and temporary contraceptive method that is based on the natural infertility that results from breastfeeding. Maybe a word or two about what actually causes this. An evaluation was conducted of a behavior change communication intervention integrated into the existing government program to increase knowledge and use of the lactational amenorrhea method and postpartum contraception through counseling by community workers. Lactational amenorrhoea method for family planning. Lactational amenorrhea method geneva foundation for medical. Multicenter study of the lactational amenorrhea method. If not combined with barrier contraceptives, spermicides, hormonal contraceptives, or intrauterine devices, lactational amenorrhea method lam may be considered natural family planning by the roman catholic church.
Because of the potential importance of the lactational amenorrhea method lam as a familyplanning option in egypt, we analyzed data from the 1995 egyptian demographic and health survey edhs to. Has hiv infection see the lactational amenorrhea method for women with hiv. When a woman is exclusively breastfeeding and amenorrheic, the risk of becoming pregnant during the first 6. The lactational amenorrhea method lam is a highly effective, temporary family planning method for breastfeeding women. Fertilityawareness based methods lactational amenorrhea method lam withdrawal coitus interruptus abstinence. The purpose of this brief is to guide health care service providers in offering quality lam services within their maternal and child health, reproductive health and family planning programs. Lactational amenorrhea method lam what is the lactational amenorrhea method. Labbok, md, mph, from breastfeeding abstracts, august 1993, volume, number 1, pp.
Lam is highly effective as a transitional method of birth control, but another method of birth control should be used as soon as any of the three lam criteria are not met. Lactational amenorrhea as a method of family planning in egypt. Lactational amenorrhea method institute for reproductive. Hhs home opa pregnancy prevention birth control methods lactational amenorrhea method lam text resize a a a. It includes information on the effectiveness, benefits, and downsides of the lactational amenorrhea method. Another factor shown to affect the length of amenorrhea was the mothers age. Lactational amenorrhea synonyms, lactational amenorrhea pronunciation, lactational amenorrhea translation, english dictionary definition of lactational amenorrhea. Women free of a blood borne infection which could be. I know its something to do with hormone levels, but theres no mention if. This formed the basis for the lactational amenorrhea method and has since. The lactational amenorrhea method lam is a new introductory family planning method that. We classified correct use of modern methods the lactational amenorrhea method, the standard days method, hormonal and surgical methods, condom as safe, and traditional family planning method use periodic abstinence, withdrawal and improperly used modern methods for example, inconsistent condom use as entailing some risk.
Medical eligibility criteria for the lactational amenorrhea method. Pdf lactational amenorrhoea method for family planning. Lactational refers to breastfeeding, and amenorrhea means not having your period. Clinical study of the lactational amenorrhoea method for family planning. Jhpiego provides the global health community with information, expertise and opportunities to support high quality health systems in limitedresource settings. List four types of reversible contraception methods that are compatible with breastfeeding. All breastfeeding women can safely use lam, but a woman in the following circumstances may want to consider other contraceptive methods. Women who stop nursing within 30 days usually experience the. Fact sheet on the lactational amenorrhea method lam pdf version. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential for lam and passive lam among women with children below 6 months in the 2003 egypt demographic health survey 2003 edhs, to assess the determinants of amenorrhea, and to examine the association of exclusive breastfeeding and amenorrhea with using modern contraceptive methods among nursing mothers of children below 2. All others, please contact the knowledge for health project for more information. Lactational amenorrhoea method for family planning cochrane. Describe the lactational amenorrhea method that promotes contraception for the first six months postpartum. Women may be advised that if they are lactational amenorrhoea method lam is over 98%.
A multicenter study of the lactational amenorrhea method lam was carried out to test the acceptability and efficacy of the method. Contraceptive counseling for breastfeeding patients. If you are a member, log in to gain full access to site capabilities, as well as individualized updates. It is based on the natural infertility resulting from certain patterns of breastfeeding.