Postpartum and postabortal contraception
Hatem, G.; Tournaire, M.
Fertilite Contraception Sexualite 18(5): 319-323
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0980-3904 PMID: 12342846 Document Number: 446629
A review of literature is used to evaluate contraceptive methods in the postpartum and postabortion periods and a strategy to be used in practice is presented. Fertility may resume as soon as the 25th day postpartum and breastfeeding is not a fail-safe contraceptive method. Postabortion, the situation is simple and the rule is to prescribe estrogen/progestin except where this is contraindicated. An IUD can also be inserted postabortion. In the postpartum, there are 2 different situations which may present themselves. If the woman is breastfeeding, the contraceptive of choice is a microprogestin pill given from the 20th day onward. If the patient does not prefer to take an oral contraceptive, oral contraception is suggested (but not a diaphragm). When the patient ceases breastfeeding, an estrogen/progestin pill or an IUD will be the choices; the IUD can be inserted as early as the 2nd month postpartum. If the woman is not breastfeeding, estrogen/progestin pills, microprogestins (on the 20th day), or local methods can all be used. An IUD can be inserted as early as the 2nd month postpartum or the 3rd month after a cesarean. (author's modified)