Abstract
Objective: To study the effect of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate on basal serum prolactin levels in lactating women. Methods: We compared basal serum prolactin levels in 25 lactating women after depot medroxyprogesterone acetate injection and in 25 lactating women of similar age who were using a copper T380A intrauterine device (control group). This sample size was required in order to have 95% power to detect a significant difference. Basal prolactin levels were evaluated by time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay three times (6 weeks postpartum and 3 and 6 weeks after beginning either contraceptive method). Results: At 6 weeks postpartum, before beginning either contraceptive method, the mean prolactin levels in the study and control groups were 991.31 and 948.75 mU/L, respectively ( P = .850, 95% confidence interval [CI] −407.57, 492.70). Three weeks later, the mean prolactin levels in the study and control groups were 1156.12 and 860.10 mU/L, respectively ( P = .116, 95% CI −76.20, 668.26). At the last follow-up, the mean prolactin levels in the study and control groups were 1127.83 and 710.97 mU/L, respectively ( P = .026, 95% CI 51.97, 781.73). There were no significant within-group differences at 6 weeks postpartum before contraception and at 6 weeks after beginning contraception in the study and control groups ( P > .05, 95% CI −327.99, 243.02 and −46.76, 522.33, respectively). Conclusion: Contraception with depot medroxyprogesterone acetate in lactating women produced higher basal prolactin levels than contraception with copper T380A intrauterine device.
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