Mid-pregnancy androgen levels are negatively associated with breastfeeding.
OBJECTIVE
Breastfeeding depends on endocrine changes during pregnancy. The association between gestational hormones and lactation has been sparsely investigated. Previously, androgens were used for lactation inhibition. We investigated a possible association between second trimester maternal androgen levels and breastfeeding.


METHODS
Prospective observational study.


METHODS
University hospital setting. POPULATION. Women from a random sample of pregnancies (n = 63) and from a group with an increased risk for giving birth to a small-for-gestational age newborn (n = 118) were included. All participants had singleton pregnancies and one or two previous births.


METHODS
Maternal androgen levels were measured in gestational week 25. The association with reported breastfeeding was explored by univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses. Analyses were adjusted for factors known to be associated with breastfeeding.


METHODS
Breastfeeding at six weeks, three months, and six months postpartum.


RESULTS
In the random group, breastfeeding at three and six months was negatively associated with maternal testosterone, androstendione, and free testosterone index levels. After correction for maternal age, education and smoking, breastfeeding at both three and six months was negatively associated with the free testosterone index. In the group of women with an increased risk for giving birth to a small-for-gestational age newborn, breastfeeding at six weeks and three months was associated negatively with maternal dehydroepiandrosterone and this association persisted after correction for maternal age, education, and smoking.


CONCLUSIONS
Maternal androgen levels in mid-pregnancy are negatively associated with breastfeeding.
Carlsen
Sven Magnus
SM
Unit of Applied Clinical Research, Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Children's and Women's Health, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. sven.carlsen@ntnu.no
Jacobsen
Geir
G
Vanky
Eszter
E
D000328:Adult; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood*; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008423:Maternal Age; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009664:Norway; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone