Breast-Feeding: Effects on the Hypothalamic Pituitary Gonadal Axis

Abstract

Regularly breast-feeding women had increased serum prolactin, low estradiol and reduced gonadotropin responses to luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone during the first 6 weeks postpartum. women who started intermittent breast-feeding (BF±) after the third week did not sustain these hormonal patterns. Non-nursing (NN) women had hormonal values in the follicular range by the third week. Menses resumed within 6 to 12 weeks in NN and BF± women whereas amenorrhea persisted beyond the 14th week in the regularly breast-feeding women. The persistent hormonal changes associated with regular breast-feeding may account for the prolonged amenorrhea.