Read the following statements about lactational amenorrhea:
A. Lactational amenorrhea means absence of menstruation.
B. In lactational amenorrhea, ovulation and therefore the cycle do not occur during the period of intense lactation.
C. Lactational amenorrhea increases phagocytosis of sperms within the uterus.
D. In lactational amenorrhea, side effects are almost nil as no medicines or devices are used.
E. The chances of failure of lactational amenorrhea are low.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → A, B and D only
Lactational amenorrhea means absence of menstruation during the period of intense breast-feeding after childbirth. Ovulation does not occur then, so it works as a natural method of contraception.
A. Lactational amenorrhea means absence of menstruation. — True. Amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation.
B. In lactational amenorrhea, ovulation and therefore the cycle do not occur during the period of intense lactation. — True. This is the basis of the method.
C. Lactational amenorrhea increases phagocytosis of sperms within the uterus. — False. Increased phagocytosis of sperms within the uterus is an action of IUDs, not of lactational amenorrhea.
D. In lactational amenorrhea, side effects are almost nil as no medicines or devices are used. — True. This holds for all the natural methods.
E. The chances of failure of lactational amenorrhea are low. — False. NCERT says the chances of failure of this method are high. It works only while the mother breast-feeds fully, for up to six months after parturition.
So A, B and D are correct.
NCERT Extract:
Population Stabilisation and Birth Control – “… Lactational amenorrhea (absence of menstruation) method is based on the fact that ovulation and therefore the cycle do not occur during the period of intense lactation following parturition. Therefore, as long as the mother breast-feeds the child fully, chances of conception are almost nil. However, this method has been reported to be effective only upto a maximum period of six months following parturition. As no medicines or devices are used in these methods, side effects are almost nil. Chances of failure, though, of this method are also high.”