Yesterday Dr. Nichols-Johnson said that lactational anovulation usually lasts from 6-8 months. I just wanted to point out that many women who nurse frequently during the day and at night and whose children don't use pacifiers often have much much longer lactational amenorrhea. I had 23 blessed months of no menstrual periods after the birth of my first child, and 2-3 years is common for women in traditional societies. A lot depends of the frequency and timing of nursing (night nursing has a greater effect), the nutritional status of the mother, the amount of solids and pacifier use, etc. Plus, there is huge individual variation, even with all other things being equal. But many women experience much longer than 6-8 months of lactational amenorrhea. The fascinating links between breastfeeding and fertility are explored in great detail in Peter Ellison's published works, including a chapter from Breastfeeding: Biocultural Perspectives. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- Katherine A. Dettwyler, Ph.D. email: [log in to unmask] Anthropology Department phone: (409) 845-5256 Texas A&M University fax: (409) 845-4070 College Station, TX 77843-4352