The Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM) is a modern, temporary contraceptive method based on natural infertility resulting from certain patterns of breastfeeding. LAM represents the natural integration of maternal health with infant and child health. While LAM is an effective modern contraceptive method for the woman, it also provides the perfect nutrition for the infant up through six months of age. When the infant transitions from only breastmilk to breastmilk plus the introduction of foods, the woman who wants to delay pregnancy, transitions from LAM to another modern method of contraception.

 All postpartum women who meet the following three criteria can use LAM:

1. Menstrual bleeding has not resumed;

AND 2. The infant is fully or nearly fully breastfed frequently, day and night;

AND 3. The infant is under six months of age.

Expanding access to LAM with high quality services helps expand women’s contraceptive choice and can facilitate use of other family planning methods during a critical time in a woman’s reproductive life, following the birth of a child. Additional resources about LAM Essential Knowledge; Advocacy and Policy; Training; Information, Education, and Communication Tools (IEC); Program Experiences; Monitoring and Evaluation (M & E); and Research are available in the Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition and Family Planning (MIYCN-FP) Integration Toolkit.