Effect of clomiphene on prolactin secretion and lactation in puerperal women

Treatments for suppression of lactation

BACKGROUND

Various pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions have been used to suppress lactation after childbirth and relieve associated symptoms. Despite the large volume of literature on the subject, there is currently no universal guideline on the most appropriate approach for suppressing lactation in postpartum women.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of interventions used for suppression of lactation in postpartum women (who have not breastfed or expressed breastmilk) to determine which approach has the greatest comparative benefits with least risk.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (30 June 2012).

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised trials evaluating the effectiveness of treatments used for suppression of postpartum lactation.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted data.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 62 trials (6428 women). Twenty-two trials did not contribute data to the meta-analyses. The trials were generally small and of limited quality. Three trials (107 women) indicated that bromocriptine significantly reduced the proportion of women lactating compared with no treatment at or within seven days postpartum (three trials, 107 women; risk ratio (RR) 0.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.24 to 0.54). Seven trials involving oestrogen preparations (diethylstilbestrol, quinestrol, chlorotrianisene, hexestrol) suggested that they significantly reduced the proportion of lactating women compared with no treatment at or within seven days postpartum (RR 0.40, 95% CI 0.29 to 0.56). We found no trials comparing non-pharmacologic methods with no treatment. Trials comparing bromocriptine with other pharmacologic agents such as methergoline, prostaglandins, pyridoxine, carbegoline, diethylstilbestrol and cyclofenil suggested similarity in their effectiveness. Side effects were poorly reported in the trials and no case of thromboembolism was recorded in the four trials that reported it as an outcome.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There is weak evidence that some pharmacologic treatments (most of which are currently unavailable to the public) are better than no treatment for suppressing lactation symptoms in the first postpartum week. No evidence currently exists to indicate whether non-pharmacologic approaches are more effective than no treatment. Presently, there is insufficient evidence to address the side effects of methods employed for suppressing lactation. When women desire treatment, bromocriptine may be considered where it is registered for lactation suppression in those without predisposition to its major side effects of public concerns. Many trials did not contribute data that could be included in analyses. Large randomised trials are needed to compare the effectiveness of pharmacologic (especially bromocriptine) and non-pharmacologic methods with no treatment. Such trials should consider the acceptability of the intervention and lactation symptoms of concern to women and be large enough to detect clinically important differences in major side effects between comparison groups.

Treatments for suppression of lactation

BACKGROUND

Various pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions have been used to suppress lactation after childbirth and relieve associated symptoms. Despite the large volume of literature on the subject, there is currently no universal guideline on the most appropriate approach for suppressing lactation in postpartum women.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of interventions used for suppression of lactation in postpartum women (who have not breastfed or expressed breastmilk) to determine which approach has the greatest comparative benefits with least risk.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (October 2007).

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised trials evaluating the effectiveness of treatments used for suppression of postpartum lactation.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted data.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 46 trials (5164 women). The trials were generally small and of limited quality. Five trials (206 women) indicated that bromocriptine significantly reduced the proportion of women lactating compared to no treatment at or within seven days postpartum (three trials, 107 women; relative risk (RR) 0.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.24 to 0.54). Six trials involving oestrogen preparations (diethylstilbestrol, quinestrol, chlorotrianisene, hexestrol) suggested that they significantly reduced the proportion of lactating women compared to no treatment at or within seven days postpartum (RR 0.41, 95% CI 0.29 to 0.59). We found no trials comparing nonpharmacologic methods with no treatment. Trials comparing bromocriptine with other pharmacologic agents suggested similarity in their effectiveness (RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.54 to 1.17). Side effects were poorly reported in the trials and no case of thromboembolism was recorded in the four trials that reported it as an outcome.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There is weak evidence that some pharmacologic treatments (most of which are currently unavailable to the public) are better than no treatment for suppressing lactation symptoms in the first postpartum week. No evidence currently exists to indicate whether nonpharmacologic approaches are more effective than no treatment. Presently, there is insufficient evidence to address the side effects of methods employed for suppressing lactation. When women desire treatment, bromocriptine may be considered where it is registered for lactation suppression in those without predisposition to its major side effects of public concerns. Large randomised trials are needed to compare the effectiveness of pharmacologic (especially bromocriptine) and nonpharmacologic methods to no treatment. Such trials should consider acceptability of the intervention and lactation symptoms of concern to women and be large enough to detect clinically important differences in major side effects between comparison groups.

Induction of ovulation in women with hyperprolactinemic amenorrhea using clomiphene and human chorionic gonadotropin of bromocriptine

Clomiphene citrate (Clomid), when given alone, is generally considered ineffective in inducing ovulation in women with hyperprolactinemia. This study reports the treatment of 29 infertile women with hyperprolactinemic amenorrhea. Twenty-one patients (eighteen of whom had previously had no ovulation response to Clomid alone) were treated with a combined regimen of Clomid (100 to 200 mg/day for 5 days) and two injections of 5000 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), the first 8 to 10 days after Clomid withdrawal and a second injection 1 week later. Basal body temperature charts, conception, and/or plasma progesterone measurements showed that 19 patients ovulated (90%). There were 17 pregnancies in 12 of 21 patients (57% pregnancy rate) with 15 single live births and two abortions. When bromocriptine (Parlodel) became available, a total of 22 patients (including 14 patients previously treated with Clomid/HCG, six of them successfully) with amenorrhea associated with hyperprolactinemia were treated with this drug with dosages varying from 2.5 mg to 15 mg/day. Ovulation was confirmed in 20 patients (90%). There were 17 pregnancies in 15 patients (68% pregnancy rate) with 15 single live births and two first-trimester abortions. In all, 21 of 29 patients (73%) achieved one or more pregnancies resulting in live births with one or both of the above treatments. It is concluded that a combined Clomid/HCG regimen can often be used as an effective alternative to bromocriptine therapy in the treatment of infertility associated with hyperprolactinemic amenorrhea.