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Updated: May 16, 2026

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect
Published on: September 22, 2023
The effect of immediate postpartum depot medroxyprogesterone on early breastfeeding cessation
Elizabeth A Brownell1, I Diana Fernandez, Susan G Fisher
1Division of Neonatology, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, CT 06106, USA. EBrownell@CCMCKids.org
Background:
This study evaluated the effect of immediate postpartum depot medroxyprogesterone (DMPA) on breastfeeding cessation within 6 weeks postpartum.
Study Design:
At low-income-serving obstetric and pediatric clinics, eligible mothers within 1 year postpartum were recruited to participate in a retrospective cohort study. The 183 participants completed a self-administered survey. Surveys were merged with birth certificate data and perinatal maternal/infant medical records. Kaplan-Meier distributions assessed the relationship between DMPA use and breastfeeding cessation. A multivariable Cox proportional hazards model estimated hazard ratios (HRs) and included five known risk factors (age, education, race, parity and parental cohabitation) and identified potential confounders.
Results:
Consistent with the biologic model, the Kaplan-Meier results raised the possibility of a detrimental effect of DMPA on duration of any breastfeeding, but differences in these distributions did not achieve statistical significance (p=.24); after adjustment for potential confounders, this nonstatistically significant association remained (HR: 1.22; confidence interval: 0.75-1.98).
Conclusion:
Given the state of the evidence, it is unclear whether a causal effect does or does not exist. However, if there is a causal effect of DMPA on breastfeeding duration, it is minimal. Additional well-designed research is warranted.
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