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A Brief Study on Lactational Amenorrhea

When the hypothalamus' pulsatile release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and thus the pituitary's release of luteinising hormone (LH) is disrupted by breastfeeding, the return of regular ovarian cycles is delayed.

Introduction:

In addition, breastfeeding interferes with the pattern of pulsatile release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus and, consequently, the release of luteinising hormone (LH) from the pituitary, which delays the resumption of regular ovarian cycles. While the plasma concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) during lactation are sufficient to stimulate follicle growth, the insufficient pulsatile LH signal causes the estradiol generation by these follicles to be diminished.

Lactational Method of Amenorrhea (LAM)

It talks about breastfeeding as a way to keep babies from being born. Even though it isn’t very accurate, it still has a big impact on fertility.

After giving birth, when the women are lactating a lot, they don’t go through the menstrual cycle, so the chances of getting pregnant are very low.

Pros: It’s a natural method that doesn’t need any medicines or IUD to be used for contraception. There are no side effects, so there is no need to worry about that. But there are also a lot of chances that things will go wrong.

An important part of getting LAM is that both the mother and child must be exclusively breast-feeding, and the child must be less than six months old.The time it takes for menstruation to come back varies from person to person. Within six months of giving birth, most breastfeeding women don’t have menstrual cycles. This means that the chances of becoming pregnant are very low.

A contraceptive method like an IUD or oral pills should be used after LAM.

Pathways for hormones and neuroendocrine control

By changing the pattern of pulsatile release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and luteinising hormone (LH) from the hypothalamus and pituitary, breastfeeding makes it more difficult for the ovaries to start producing eggs again.

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels in the blood during lactation are enough to make follicles grow, but the lack of pulsating LH signals means that these follicles produce less estradiol. Preovulatory LH surges don’t happen when lactation is going on. Follicles either don’t burst, or they become atretic or cystic if they don’t burst. Only when lactation is low enough to allow a normal LH surge before ovulation to happen will ovulation happen with the formation of a corpus luteum that isn’t always normal. Lactation, on the other hand, slows down the return of normal ovarian cyclicity because it interferes with, but not completely stops, the normal pattern of GnRH release by the hypothalamus. The reason why GnRH isn’t released isn’t known. 

In women, hyperprolactinemia is often linked to a condition called amenorrhea, which is similar to what happens during lactation (lactational amenorrhea). The body’s prolactin levels rise when a baby sucks, which makes more milk. Excessive prolactin can slow down the menstrual cycle, either by suppressing the ovary or by lowering the release of GnRH. 

Lactational amenorrhea is a type of amenorrhea.

Lactational Amenorrhea is not having menstruation when you are breastfeeding. It is a time of infertility that lasts for a short time or after giving birth.

During the time when you are completely breastfeeding, the chances of getting pregnant are very low. This has been found to be a good method of contraception for six months after giving birth.Amenorrhea is simply when your menstrual cycles don’t go as planned. Types: There can be two types. Primary amenorrhea is when a girl doesn’t menstruate even after she turns 13. There are two types of secondary amenorrhea. One is when an adult woman with a normal cycle doesn’t have her period for three to six months or more. Having secondary amenorrhea can be a sign of something else going on in your body. For example, it can be caused by natural changes in your body like lactational amenorrhea and menopause.

 lactational amenorrhea cause 

After giving birth, breastfeeding slows down the resumption of the ovarian cycle. It doesn’t happen, so the menstrual cycle also doesn’t happen.

Lactational amenorrhea is controlled by the brain and the hormones.

When you breastfeed, your Hypothalamus doesn’t make enough Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which stops your anterior pituitary from making FSH and (LH) from your ovaries.

Because lactation stops a surge in the release of LH at this time, it also stops ovulation.

When the lactation is down a lot, the normal cycle starts again.

Lactational amenorrhea is a good way to spread out births.

Pathways for hormones and neuroendocrine control

By changing the pattern of pulsatile release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and luteinising hormone (LH) from the hypothalamus and pituitary, breastfeeding makes it more difficult for the ovaries to start producing eggs again.

 Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels in the blood during lactation are enough to make follicles grow, but the lack of pulsating LH signals means that these follicles produce less estradiol. Preovulatory LH surges don’t happen when lactation is going on. Follicles either don’t burst, or they become atretic or cystic if they don’t burst. Only when lactation is low enough to allow a normal LH surge before ovulation to happen will ovulation happen with the formation of a corpus luteum that isn’t always normal. Lactation, on the other hand, slows down the return of normal ovarian cyclicity because it interferes with, but not completely stops, the normal pattern of GnRH release by the hypothalamus. The reason why GnRH isn’t released isn’t known. 

In women, hyperprolactinemia is often linked to a condition called amenorrhea, which is similar to what happens during lactation (lactational amenorrhea). The body’s prolactin levels rise when a baby sucks, which makes more milk. Excessive prolactin can slow down the menstrual cycle, either by suppressing the ovary or by lowering the release of GnRH. 

Conclusion

By changing the pattern of pulsatile release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and luteinising hormone (LH) from the hypothalamus and pituitary, breastfeeding makes it more difficult for the ovaries to start producing eggs again.

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Frequently asked questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the NEET UG Examination Preparation.

What causes lactational amenorrhea?

GnRH is released from the hypothalamus, but it doesn’t work properly during lactation. This causes amenorrhea....Read full

How does lactational amenorrhea keep pregnancy from happening?

Lactational amenorrhea is a good way to avoid pregnancy and space births. During breastfeeding, ovulation doesn̵...Read full

During lactation, how long does amenorrhea last in women?

 Lactation amenorrhea usually lasts for six months after giving birth, when the mother is only breastfeeding the ch...Read full

When you talk about lactational amenorrhea, what do you mean by that word?

Lactational amenorrhea is when there isn’t a menstrual cycle during the time when a lot of milk is being made....Read full

How can one re-establish ovulation while breastfeeding?

Change the breastfeeding habit to restore your fertility sooner. There is no universal rule for how often one should...Read full