Recovery of ovarian function after childbirth, lactation and sexual activity with relation to age of women.

ABSTRACT

The time for recovery of ovulation, lactation and initiation of sexual intercourse after childbirth was studied in 90 women, who were divided into three groups 1) adolescents less than 19 years old (n = 30); 2) younger mothers 19 to 32 years old (n = 30); and 3) older women more than 32 years old (n = 30). No differences were found in the duration of breast-feeding or in the initiation of sexual intercourse among the three groups. The postpartum amenorrhea in lactating women was significantly longer than in nonlactating mothers. The amenorrhea was significantly less in younger women than in older mothers and tended to be lower than in adolescents. The time between delivery and detection of ovulation was significantly longer in women who breast-fed than in those who did not. Furthermore, this time was significantly shorter in younger women than in older mothers. The present work suggests that younger women had a quicker recovery of ovarian function than adolescents and older women.