Just thinking on the keyboard here, but I seem to recall from Pharmacology
class, waaaay back in med school, that synthetic hormones bind at the same
receptor sites that the natural ones do.  (Thus the reason that synthetic
estrogen after menopause prevents osteoporosis, etc.)  So perhaps it's not
the level of the hormone, or whether it's even the natural hormone that's
bound, but that any progestin binds at those receptors, that causes the
effect, i.e. the breasts are "fooled" into thinking that mom is still
pregnant because the progesterone receptors are bound with "something."

Becky Saenz, MD, IBCLC


>Patrica,
>I don't understand how this could be true because the way that Depo
>Provera works is to release a high level of progestin into the body.
>This unnaturally high level stops the natural production of both
>progesterone and estrogen. So, I don't see how it can prevent the
>natural decrease in progesterone when, in fact, it is causing an
>unnatural one. If anyone has better information I would be interested.
>However, it is generally felt that before using hormonal methods of
>birth control that breastfeeding should be well established first before
>use to ensure that they are not interfering with milk production.  I
>think more studies in this area are needed but I think it makes sense to
>delay the use of Depo or Norplant until at least the six week postpartum
>visit.
>There are newer methods of birth control and I don't know what the
>recommendations are for those...anyone?
>Karen Ianacone, RN, MA, CCE, CLC
>mailto:[log in to unmask]
>
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