Is Mircette Safe During Breastfeeding?
Mircette® (desogestrel/ethinyl estradiol) is a prescription birth control pill that is classified as a combined oral contraceptive because it contains both a progestin and an estrogen. Although combined
oral contraceptives are very effective at preventing pregnancy, they are usually not recommended for breastfeeding women.
What Does the Research Say About Mircette and Breastfeeding?
Research suggests that the hormones in
birth control pills do pass through breast milk in low amounts. These tiny amounts are probably too low to cause significant problems in breastfeeding infants. However, there have been cases of problems (such as jaundice and breast enlargement) in babies whose mothers took certain types of combined oral contraceptives while breastfeeding.
More importantly, combined contraceptives may decrease the production and quality of breast milk. For this reason, healthcare providers almost always recommend progestin-only oral contraceptives (also known as "mini-pills") instead of combined contraceptives for women who are breastfeeding. However, progestin-only contraceptive pills are usually less effective than combined contraceptives. As soon as you stop breastfeeding, it may be a good idea to ask your healthcare provider about switching to a combined contraceptive product (such as Mircette).
Add this article to your Favorites
Email this article
Print