Yes, breastfeeding does affect conception as breastfeeding has been shown to have a contraceptive effect.

Breastfeeding Immediately After Giving Birth

Studies show breastfeeding your infant menstruation during the six-month period right after giving birth prevents conception. If you would like to conceive right away in order to follow up the birth of your newborn, as females who breastfeed their infants have approximately one hundred percent protection from giving birth. Hence, the so-called contraceptive effect of breastfeeding.

Infertility While Breastfeeding

The reason behind why breastfeeding prevents conception is that prolactin hormones are produced during lactation or breastfeeding. The particular period referred to here is the six-month period immediately following childbirth for women who are feeding their infants exclusively with breastmilk, when prolactin levels are extremely high.

Female prolactin levels lower eventually once she no longer breastfeeds her infant exclusively and starts to supplement feeding with formulas. In the same manner, fertility levels will start to rise again, thus making conception possible again. But such fertility levels are still very low after the six-month post childbirth period if the mother still feeds her child exclusively with her breastmilk thus still reducing the risk of conception during such period.

What Is Prolactin?

Prolactin is a naturally produced hormone, that is secreted mainly in the pituitary gland by the brain cells and also by the immune cells and decidua cells. Prolactin stimulates the production of milk in the mammary glands. The structure of prolactin is single-chained, and is similar and closely related to growth hormones.

The effects of the release of the prolactin hormone in the female body are that it can delay puberty and interference with ovulation. Having high levels of prolactin, which is commonly experienced immediately after childbirth decreases fertility.