Is Norethynodrel Safe in Breastfeeding

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

Norethynodrel is only available in the United States in combination oral contraceptive products. Based on the available evidence, expert opinion holds that nonhormonal methods are preferred during breastfeeding and progestin-only contraceptive are preferred over combined oral contraceptives in breastfeeding women, especially during the first 4 weeks postpartum. For further information, consult the record entitled, "Contraceptives, Oral, Combined."

Abnormal breast enlargement was reported in a 3-week-old male breastfed infant whose mother was taking an oral contraceptive containing norethynodrel 25 mg and mestranol 100 mcg.[4] The contraceptive was the probable cause of breast enlargement, but most likely the estrogen component mestranol rather than norethynodrel caused the effect.

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date. However, progestins such as norethynodrel are not considered to suppress lactation. A study analyzed data from a prospective cohort study of U.S. women from May 2005 through June 2007. Women were followed from the third trimester of pregnancy throughout the first year postpartum. Data from the subset of women who intended to breastfeed for 3 months or longer postpartum during their third trimester of pregnancy and who were using a contraceptive at 3 months postpartum were analyzed (n = 1349). Women who intended to breastfeed for at least 4 months and were taking a progestin-only oral contraceptive, such as norethynodrel, were 3.15 times more likely to be breastfeeding (exclusive or nonexclusive) at 4 months than women who used a nonhormonal contraceptive. Women who said they would breastfeed for 3 to 4 months had 4-month breastfeeding rates equivalent to those using a nonhormonal contraceptive. These rates were much higher than those of women who were taking an estrogen-containing, combined oral contraceptive.[5]