Efficacy of lactation amenorrhea contraception - LAM

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Breastfeeding amenorrhea is one of the temporary contraceptive methods based on exclusive breastfeeding after birth when the period has not returned and the baby is under 6 months old. However, this method of contraception is not 100% effective at preventing pregnancy, so effective contraception still needs to be used in combination with some other method of contraception.

1. What is the method of amenorrhea lactation?

It has long been found that breastfeeding slows the return of menstruation in new mothers. The Lactation Amenorrhea Method (LAM) is a technique to help control natural fertility based on the actual situation of lactation (breast milk production) and factors causing amenorrhea (lack of pregnancy). terrible).
Studies have confirmed that women who exclusively breastfeed around the clock and who have not started menstruating after giving birth have a very difficult time getting pregnant during the first six months after giving birth.
Here are a few reasons why it works: Breastfeeding will be the leading factor that interferes with the release of the hormones needed to trigger ovulation. So the more you breastfeed, the less likely you are to ovulate during this period.
That said, very few women in the United States rely solely on the LAM method to protect them from pregnancy. Part of that is because they have easy access to other methods of contraception. In addition, women of this country do not tend to breastfeed for too long.
Women who are breastfeeding still sometimes feel uneasy about this natural method of birth control. They often still have to use additional methods of contraception at this stage such as: condoms and other barrier methods, the IUD or the mini pill. But you can feel more reassured knowing that a combination of exclusive breastfeeding and another method of birth control provides greater protection than either method alone.
This method has the advantages of simplicity, ease of implementation, no side effects, low cost, no effect on sexual activity, and moreover it does not affect breast milk for the baby. and maternal health.

2. Efficacy of lactation amenorrhea contraception - LAM

If you use the lactation amenorrhea method - LAM perfectly, fulfilling its conditions, then your chances of getting pregnant in the first 6 months after giving birth are less than 2%. However, for most women, it can be estimated that about 1 in 50 unwanted pregnancies are more risky than they would like (especially with a new baby). So, to have more peace of mind with this natural contraceptive, many people often combine the lactation amenorrhea method - LAM with another method of birth control.
Barrier methods (such as condoms or diaphragms), the IUD, and progestin-only contraceptives such as the minipill are all compatible with breastfeeding. Of course, the lactation amenorrhea method - LAM offers no protection against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea.... So if you feel sick If you find yourself at risk for STIs, you need to use a condom to protect yourself.

3. Conditions for the correct use of the lactation amenorrhea method - LAM

To correctly use the lactation amenorrhea method of contraception - LAM, you must fulfill all three of the following conditions:
You are exclusively breastfeeding, which means all sources Your baby's nutrition comes from breast milk. You must breastfeed on demand, day and night. What's more, your baby won't wait longer than four hours between feeds during the day and six hours between feedings at night. You still haven't had your period. Once you start menstruating, it's a clear sign that you've started ovulating again. You gave birth less than 6 months ago. Although some women won't start menstruating again for months, there's no predicting when it will. And, since women usually ovulate before they get their period, you can actually get pregnant even before your period starts again. In fact, this can happen even if you are exclusively breastfeeding, which is why the Lactation Amenorrhea - LAM method is not 100% effective, but if used it does. you are less likely to conceive in the first six months after giving birth.

4. Can amenorrhoea breastfeeding be used in the case of breastfeeding and bottle-feeding?

No. Breastfeeding plays an important role in preventing ovulation. But conversely, expressing your milk to breastfeed your baby is not effective in preventing pregnancy. The more often you breastfeed and the longer each feeding, the better for natural contraception. .
Even if you can express a lot of milk, this natural method of birth control will not work. In fact, some experts even recommend against giving your baby a pacifier, as it can become a risk factor in preventing your baby from wanting to suckle. Women who have returned to work and are having a baby need to use another method of contraception.

5. Some tips when using birth control amenorrhea lactation

There are some specific cases when using lactation amenorrhea to prevent pregnancy should switch to another method of contraception, such as:
Menstrual cycle starts again Mother is not breast-feeding exclusively or the child has eaten take more food supplements Mothers with children 6 months old Use drugs during breastfeeding. The mother is found to have an infection such as viral hepatitis, HIV, etc. Newborns are generally susceptible to respiratory diseases, respiratory infections and gastrointestinal infections if the baby starts eating solids early or the storage and preparation of milk is not guaranteed. To protect children's health, parents should do well to exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first 6 months (if possible) and vaccinate on schedule. As soon as the child shows symptoms such as anorexia, fatigue, crying, it is necessary to take the child to the hospital to be consulted by a specialist for monitoring and treatment. The pediatric department at Vinmec International General Hospital is the address for receiving and examining diseases that infants and young children are susceptible to: viral fever, bacterial fever, otitis media, pneumonia in children. With a system of facilities, modern medical equipment, sterile space, minimizing the impact as well as the risk of disease spread, Vinmec will bring satisfaction to customers. and is highly appreciated by industry experts with:
Gathering a team of leading pediatricians: including leading experts with high professional qualifications (professors, associate professors, doctors, Master's degree), experienced, worked at major hospitals such as Bach Mai, 108.. The doctors are all well-trained, professional, conscientious, knowledgeable about young psychology. In addition to domestic pediatric specialists, the Department of Pediatrics also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) who are always pioneers in applying the latest and most effective treatment regimens. . Comprehensive services: In the field of Pediatrics, Vinmec provides a series of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatric and Vaccine,... according to international standards to help parents take care of their baby's health from birth to childhood. Advanced techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery - skull, stem cell transplant blood in cancer treatment. Professional care: In addition to understanding children's psychology, Vinmec also pays special attention to the children's play space, helping them to play comfortably and get used to the hospital's environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical treatment.

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Reference source: babycenter.com