title: [Breast feeding as family planning in a global perspective].
abstract: The contraceptive effect of lactation has been recognised for a long time, but detailed knowledge concerning the size and duration of this effect, and necessary preconditions has been lacking. Research on the lactational amenorrhoea method has given new insight into these matters. A consensus statement from 1988 concluded that women are protected against a new pregnancy during the first six months post-partum, provided they practise exclusive breast-feeding and remain amenorrhoeic. Recent research indicates that supplementary feeding does not disrupt this protection, which may last even beyond six months. Breast-feeding has a contraceptive effect also after resumption of menses, but this is too uncertain to be used in systematic family planning. The lactational amenorrhoea method should become an integrated element of family planning programmes.
authors.affiliation: Barneavdelingen Familie- og Barnklinikken Ullevål sykehus, Oslo.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bøhler
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding; D003267:Contraception; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation
vernacular_title: Amming som familieplanlegging i globalt perspektiv.