title: Prolactin level after prolonged lactation: contraceptive evaluation.
abstract: A study was conducted to evaluate serum prolactin during lactation among 60 mothers with prolonged breastfeeding for 2 years.  Patients were classified into 3 groups with 20 in each:  lactating for less than 6 months, lactating for 6-12 months, and lactating for 12-24 months.  There was hyperprolactinemia during lactation and serum prolactin levels decreased as lactation progressed.  After long lactation (over a year), 10 of 20 women were amenorrheic and 10 were menstruating; 6 of the menstruating women were ovulating and 4 nonovulating.  Prolonged lactation was found to be relatively successful for family spacing.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lotfy
mesh_terms: D000568:Amenorrhea; D000858:Anovulation; D001695:Biology; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D003267:Contraception; D003933:Diagnosis; D004194:Disease; D004703:Endocrine System; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005835:Genitalia; D005836:Genitalia, Female; D006062:Gonadotropins; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary; D006728:Hormones; D007774:Lactation; D008598:Menstruation; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances; D010053:Ovary; D010061:Ovulation Detection; D010827:Physiology; D010907:Pituitary Hormones; D011247:Pregnancy; D011388:Prolactin; D012098:Reproduction; D014566:Urogenital System
chemical_list: D006062:Gonadotropins; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary; D006728:Hormones; D010907:Pituitary Hormones; D011388:Prolactin
keywords: Amenorrhea; Anovulation; Biology; Contraception; Diseases; Endocrine System; Examinations And Diagnoses; Family Planning; Family Planning, Behavioral Methods; Genitalia; Genitalia, Female; Gonadotropins; Gonadotropins, Pituitary; Hormones; Laboratory Examinations And Diagnoses; Laboratory Procedures; Lactation; Lactation, Prolonged; Maternal Physiology; Menstruation; Menstruation Disorders; Ovarian Effects; Ovary; Ovulation Detection; Physiology; Pituitary Hormones; Prolactin--analysis; Reproduction; Urogenital System