The influence of medroxyprogesterone on the duration of breast-feeding in mothers in an urban community
P. R. Hannon, A. K. Duggan, J. R. Serwint, J. W. Vogelhut, F. Witter and C. DeAngelis
Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md, USA.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of medroxyprogesterone acetate on lactation
when it is given immediately post partum. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study
with follow-up through 16 weeks post partum. SETTING: Urban teaching
hospital in Baltimore, Md. PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive sample (N = 95) of
mothers who were delivered of healthy, term newborns, had home telephones,
received either medroxyprogesterone or nonhormonal contraception at
discharge, and were currently breast-feeding their newborns. MAIN OUTCOME
MEASURES: Lactation (duration and frequency) and timing of first
introduction of formula were measured by weekly telephone interviews.
RESULTS: Maternal characteristics included the mean +/- SD maternal age (24
+/- 5 years), race (90% African American), history of pregnancy (63%
multiparous), marital status or relationship (50% married or living with
partner), and medical assistance (81% of the recipients received aid).
Women who were receiving medroxyprogesterone (n = 43) were older (P <
.05) and were more likely to be married (P < .05) compared with those
who were receiving nonhormonal contraception (n = 52). No other factors
that were likely to influence lactation were significantly different.
Groups did not differ in the baseline-planned duration of lactation.
Follow-up data were obtained on 90 women (96%). The groups were comparable
in the duration of lactation (medroxyprogesterone: 98%, 74%, 55%, 47%, and
42% were breast-feeding at least once per day at 1, 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks,
respectively [median, 10.14 weeks], vs nonhormonal contraception: 86%, 70%,
47%, 36%, and 30%, respectively [median, 6.57 weeks] [P = .19]). The
percentage of subjects who were exclusively breast-feeding at these times
and the timing of formula introduction also did not differ by group.
CONCLUSION: Medroxyprogesterone, when given to mothers in an urban
community immediately after delivery, has no detrimental effect on the
duration of lactation, frequency of lactation, and timing of introduction
of formula within the first 16 weeks post partum.
