Can I take emergency contraceptive pills while breastfeeding?

Aug 30, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Lu
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, it is not recommended to take emergency contraceptive pills during lactation. Emergency contraceptive pills contain high doses of hormones, which may affect the baby through breast milk and potentially disrupt the mother's own hormone levels during breastfeeding, posing risks to both maternal and infant health. In daily life, lactating women should prioritize safer contraceptive methods such as condoms or intrauterine devices (IUDs).

Generally, it is not recommended to take emergency contraceptive pills during lactation. These pills contain high doses of hormones that may affect the baby through breast milk and may also interfere with the mother's own hormone levels, which is detrimental to the health of both mother and child. The specific analysis is as follows:

Emergency contraceptive pills mainly contain high-potency progestins, which may enter breast milk. After ingesting breast milk containing these hormones, infants may experience disruptions to their own hormonal balance. Particularly newborns or younger infants, whose organs are not yet fully developed, tend to be more sensitive to hormones, and may experience symptoms such as breast swelling, pain, or unusual crying. At the same time, high hormone levels can disrupt the mother's endocrine system during lactation, potentially decreasing milk production, affecting breastfeeding effectiveness, and possibly causing menstrual disorders, nausea, dizziness, and other discomforts.

In daily life, lactating women should prioritize safer contraceptive methods such as condoms or intrauterine devices (IUDs). These methods not only effectively prevent pregnancy, but also minimize impacts on breastfeeding and maternal health, thus ensuring the safety of both mother and child.

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