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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2011 Nov;84(5):499-504.
doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2011.01.022. Epub 2011 Apr 16.

Postplacental or delayed levonorgestrel intrauterine device insertion and breast-feeding duration

Beatrice A Chen  1 , Matthew F Reeves, Mitchell D Creinin, E Bimla Schwarz
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Postplacental or delayed levonorgestrel intrauterine device insertion and breast-feeding duration

Beatrice A Chen et al. Contraception. 2011 Nov.

Abstract

Background: The objective of this study was to assess the effect of timing of postpartum levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device (IUD) insertion on breast-feeding continuation.

Study design: Women interested in using a levonorgestrel IUD postpartum were randomized to immediate postplacental insertion (postplacental group) or insertion 6-8 weeks after vaginal delivery (delayed group). Duration and exclusivity of breast-feeding were assessed at 6-8 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months postpartum. Only women who received an IUD were included in this analysis.

Results: Breast-feeding was initiated by 32 (64%) of 50 of women receiving a postplacental IUD and 27 (58.7%) of 46 of women receiving a delayed IUD (p=.59). More women in the delayed group compared with the postplacental group continued to breast-feed at 6-8 weeks (16/46 vs. 15/50, p=.62), 3 months (13/46 vs. 7/50, p=.13), and 6 months postpartum (11/46 vs. 3/50, p=.02). The results did not differ when only women who initiated breast-feeding or only primiparous women with no prior breast-feeding experience were analyzed.

Conclusions: Immediate postplacental insertion of the levonorgestrel IUD is associated with shorter duration of breast-feeding and less exclusive breast-feeding. Further studies on the effects of early initiation of progestin-only methods on women's lactation experience are needed.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00476021.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow of participants.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Time to breastfeeding discontinuation by timing of levonorgestrel IUD placement (Kaplan-Meier graphs). A) All subjects*; * p–value = 0.06 using log-rank test. B) Primiparas*; * p–value = 0.04 using log-rank test.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Time to breastfeeding discontinuation by timing of levonorgestrel IUD placement (Kaplan-Meier graphs). A) All subjects*; * p–value = 0.06 using log-rank test. B) Primiparas*; * p–value = 0.04 using log-rank test.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Breastfeeding trends and updated national health objectives for exclusive breastfeeding--United States, birth years 2000–2004. MMWR. 2007;56:760–763. - PubMed

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