INITIATION OF CONTRACEPTION POSTPARTUM

in this case-control study, we compared 97 cases who became pregnant w ithin one year postpartum and underwent an induced abortion to 97 non- pregnant controls who were postpartum for a similar time interval. Two percent of cases conceived when fully breastfeeding and amenorrhoeic. A logistic model was used to identify risk factors for an unwanted pr egnancy early postpartum. The most important risk factors were: time s ince menses resumption, number of menstrual bleedings, contraception, parity and education. The strong protective effect of breastfeeding an d amenorrhoea was evident in the first 24 weeks postpartum, from 25-32 weeks the effect of amenorrhoea persisted, and after 32 weeks neither variable had any effect. The main risk factor for the outcome pregnan t/non-pregnant in the first and the second interval was time since men ses resumption; time since weaning works as a distal causal factor. Af ter 32 weeks postpartum, the effect of contraceptive use and parity be came important. The results of this case-control study suggest that th e lactational amenorrhoea method, a recently proposed method of family planning can be used up to 32 weeks postpartum for amenorrhoeic and f ully or partially breastfeeding Slovenian women. Afterwards, women sho uld be encouraged to use reliable contraceptives regardless of their b reastfeeding and amenorrhoea status.