How does breast-feeding stave off ovulation?
Although there isn’t one clear answer, it seems that high prolactin (the hormone that causes lactation) levels have a lot to do with the continued suspension of ovulation. Dr. Pamela Berens, MD, an associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at the University of Texas Health Science Center, at Houston, who researches lactation and breast milk, explained how prolactin levels fluctuate and affect reproductive functioning. “Baseline prolactin levels typically fall after delivery, and by 2–3 months postpartum, the basal levels are about 40%–50% of initial levels,” Dr. Berens says. “Even though the basal level may have dropped, it still roughly doubles with each nursing.” She says that the fall in the basal level is somewhat related to how often you breast-feed, but the pattern and level of prolactin do not accurately predict when your fertility will return. According to Dr. Berens, prolactin inhibits the normal release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH).
