The Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM) was created to allow women to safely rely on breastfeeding as a family planning method. However, many women do not feel comfortable relying on breastfeeding as a form of birth control because they have been told it is unreliable, or perhaps because they know someone who became pregnant while breastfeeding.
4. Who can use LAM? A woman can use LAM if : 1. Her menstrual period has not returned since delivery . And. 2. She is breastfeeding her baby And.. 3. Her baby is less than six months old.
5. When all three of these conditions exist, she has less than a two percent chance of becoming pregnant.
6. The woman is encouraged to begin using a complementary family planning method when any of the three conditions changes, or whenever she chooses.
7. Scientific studies * Study conducted by the Institute for Reproductive Health. ** Study conducted by Family Health International. Study/Date N Efficacy (%) Pregnancies (#) Chile*/1989 422 99.5 1 Ecuador*/1993 330 99.8 2 Pakistan**/1995 391 99.4 1 Philippines**/1996 485 99.0 2 Multicenter*/1996 519 98.5 5
8. LAM is an effective, safe, convenient short-term way for breastfeeding women to delay pregnancy.