Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM) for Women Who Are Breastfeeding

Out of 100 Women Using this Method
Typical Use: 2 Women Become Pregnant
Perfect Use: 2 Women Become Pregnant

What is Lactational Amenorrhea Method and how does it work?

Lactational Amenorrhea Method can only work to prevent pregnancy for a woman whose baby is less than six months old and who is only breast-feeding her baby. The suckling (breast-feeding by a baby) changes how a woman's body works and stops a woman's ovaries from releasing an egg. When there is no egg, pregnancy can't occur.

How effective is Lactational Amenorrhea Method?

If women use LAM and all the conditions are met, it is 98% effective. This means that if 100 women use LAM perfectly, 2 women will become pregnant in a year. Perfect use means if a woman has not had her menstrual period since having her baby, if she is only using breast feeding to feed her baby (at least 6-10 times a day, including night feedings), and if the baby is less than 6 months old. Once any of these 3 conditions are not true, LAM is very unreliable and a woman should use a back-up method of contraception to protect against pregnancy. LAM does not protect against STDs.

Are there any problems with LAM?

LAM is a very natural way to protect against pregnancy. You should contact your health care provider when you start getting your menstrual period again.

Written by the Center for Young Women's Health Staff

Updated 8/13/2005

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