As per the question the other day concerning clomiphene and lactation...

Clomiphen has both estrogenic and anti-estrogenic properties.  It appears to
stimulate the production of FSH and LH in anovulatory women, hence inducing
ovulation.

As per its effect on lactation, there are two articles in the literature using
clomiphene to inhibit lactation.

The first was Zuckerman (1973) who used 50-100 mg daily for 5 days specifically
to inhibit lactation.  In this study of 136 women who received clomiphene,
lactation was inhibited in 98.2% of the women who received 100 mg... and 73% in
women who received 50 mg/day doses.

In the second study (Masala 1978) of 60 puerperal women receiving 100 mg /day
for 5 days,  little or no lactation was noted following therapy,  and there was
no rebound congestion or swelling noted.

Please note that both of these studies were with women in the early postpartum
stage and it is readily apparent that clomiphene in this time period is a
powerful suppressant of lactation.  However,  we do not know if clomiphene is
effective in suppressing mature lactation.  Further,  it is interesting to note
that no side effects of any kind were noted in these studies.

As to whether clomiphene transfers to the infant and produces sequelae is
problematic.  No data exists.  However, I would assume very small amounts
probably do transfer,  but 5 days of exposure would be very unlikely to produce
problems in an infant.


Regards
Tom Hale, Ph.D.


Masala, A. Clomiphene and puerperal lactation. Panminerva. Med. 20: 161-163,
1978.

Zuckerman, H. and Carmel, S. The inhibition of lactation by clomiphene.  J.
Obstet. and Gynecology of Brit. Common. 80:822-23, 1973.