I have a question about using breastfeeding as a natural spacing of children. I heard that the hormones in our food may interfere with the effect that breastfeeding has on ovulation. Is it true?
Maria
Home » Ask The Expert » Do Hormones in Our Diet Affect Return Of Fertility While Breastfeeding?
Do Hormones in Our Diet Affect Return Of Fertility While Breastfeeding?
Question
Answer
Last Updated: December 1, 2021
Dear Maria,
We don’t know of a link between hormones in food and an early return to fertility during breastfeeding. The frequency of a baby’s suckling is the greatest determing factor in the length of breastfeeding amenorrhea. We would recommend Sheila Kippley’s Breastfeeding and Natural Spacing as an excellent guide, with special attention given to her Seven Standards of Ecological Breastfeeding.
Andrea and Ron Gronsky
We don’t know of a link between hormones in food and an early return to fertility during breastfeeding. The frequency of a baby’s suckling is the greatest determing factor in the length of breastfeeding amenorrhea. We would recommend Sheila Kippley’s Breastfeeding and Natural Spacing as an excellent guide, with special attention given to her Seven Standards of Ecological Breastfeeding.
Andrea and Ron Gronsky
Answered By:
Andrea and Ron Gronsky
Andrea and Ron Gronsky, PhD, Professional Members of CANFP,now retired, taught the Sympto Thermal Method through the Couple to Couple League, in the Oakland Region.
Read more related questions
Long Term Health Issues of Chronic Low Progesterone
Hi—I was diagnosed with low progesterone, after noticing ongoing random (not premenstrual) minor brown spotting a couple times per month. I now take 200 mg…
Anxiety Returning to Cycles Postpartum
I am eight months postpartum and still breastfeeding my child although we supplement with formula and she eats solid foods twice daily. Lately, I’ve been…
What to Expect Stopping Pill at 52
What can you expect coming off the pill at 52 and what are the chances of becoming pregnant? Shuri
Preparing to Use NFP In Future Marriage
My boy friend and I are planning on getting engaged within the next year, and married about a year or so after that. I have…
Can I Use NFP While Taking Tamoxifen
I am 48 and perimenopausal with periods every 26 to 60 days. My husband and I used NFP during most of our married life, but…
Pharmacist Seeks Advice for Inducing a Period Post Pill
I am a pharmacist in Alberta Canada and am hoping you will be able to help me. I have a patient who stopped her Diane…
Want Better Option Than Pill—But it is all I am offered
My name is Jourdan and I am 18, never sexually active, and with no history of breast cancer or cervical cancer in my family (I…
Clots, Meds, and Pregnancy
I am 27 and have residual blood clots in my left arm from 2006. They have not dissolved properly and still show up on my…
Worried What this Bleeding Means
I started my period on April 3 and finished on the 6th of April. I started spotting a dark brown sticky discharge (mucus) with little…
Periods Have Not Returned After Stopping Pill
I have come off the pill because I got so that I was not having a period on my free week. It has been a…
What to Expect After 15 Years on Pill?
I was on the pill (Desogestrel 0.15mg and Ethinyl Estradiol 0.03 mg) for 15 years and stopped taking it at the end of March this…
At My Wits End Figuring Out What is Wrong
I am at my wit’s end as to what is wrong with me and need some advice. I was on the contraceptive pill from age…