The Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM) is a temporary contraceptive method that can be used after childbirth. When used correctly, LAM is greater than 98% effective.³ To use LAM, women follow three simple criteria: exclusive breastfeeding; amenorrhea; and infant < six months. These criteria can be taught by health providers or community health workers.

LAM supports mothers to exclusively breastfeed their infants for the first six months, which increases the likelihood of infant survival. The method is culturally acceptable and provides an opportunity for both parents to discuss family planning in the context of healthy spacing for the well-being of their infant. LAM also serves as a gateway to other modern methods; multinational research shows that up to 70% of women who accept LAM use a modern method of contraception at 12 months postpartum.⁴

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³ Consensus statement: breastfeeding as a family planning method. Lancet 1988; 19 Nov. II (8621): 1204-1205. [2] Kennedy KI, Rivera R, McNeilly A. Consensus statement on the use of breastfeeding as a family planning method. Contraception 1989; 39(5): 477-496.

⁴ Khan ME 2008. Hight-Laukaran et al. 1997.