Question

I am a breastfeeding mother and i want to know if it is safe to use Nonoxynol-9? Is Nonoxynol-9 safe for nursing mother and child? Does Nonoxynol-9 extracts into breast milk? Does Nonoxynol-9 has any long term or short term side effects on infants? Can Nonoxynol-9 influence milk supply or can Nonoxynol-9 decrease milk supply in lactating mothers?

Answer by DrLact: About Nonoxynol-9 usage in lactation

Nonoxynol-9 is a relatively nontoxic nonionic surfactant and only trivial amounts of the drug have been found in the milk of animals after vaginal administration.[1] Limited information indicates that breastfed infants of mothers using vaginal nonoxynol-9 experienced no adverse effects. Vaginal use of nonoxynol-9 is acceptable in nursing mothers.

Nonoxynol-9 Side Effects in Breastfeeding

In a study comparing various methods of contraception, the breastfed infants of women who used a nonoxynol-9-containing foam had no observable adverse effects.[2]

Nonoxynol-9 Possible Effects in Breastfeeding

Compared with a combination contraceptive containing ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg and levonorgestrel 150 mcg, women who used either nonoxynol-9 foam or copper-T IUD had less inhibition of lactation than the combined oral contraceptive.[2]
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