RECOVERY OF OVARIAN-FUNCTION AFTER CHILDBIRTH, LACTATION AND SEXUAL-ACTIVITY WITH RELATION TO AGE OF WOMEN

The time for recovery of ovulation, lactation and initiation of sexual intercourse after childbirth was studied in 90 women, who were divide d 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 tha n 32 years old (n=30). No differences were found in the duration of br east-feeding or in the initiation of sexual intercourse among the thre e groups. The postpartum amenorrhea in lactating women was significant ly longer than in nonlactating mothers. The amenorrhea was significant ly less in younger women than in older mothers and tended to be lower than in adolescents. The time between delivery and detection of ovulat ion 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 wo men had a quicker recovery of ovarian function than adolescents and ol der women.