Skip to main content
Log in

Inducing Lactation in a Transgender Woman Without Galactagogues: A Case Report

  • Clinical Vignette
  • Published:
Journal of General Internal Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Figure 1

References

  1. Meek JY, Noble L, Section on Breastfeeding. Policy Statement: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk. Pediatrics. 2022 1;150(1):e2022057988.

  2. Breastfeeding Challenges: ACOG Committee Opinion, Number 820. Obstet Gynecol. 2021;137(2):e42–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Snetselaar LG, de Jesus JM, DeSilva DM, Stoody EE. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025: Understanding the Scientific Process, Guidelines, and Key Recommendations. Nutr Today. 2021;56(6):287–95.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. World Health Organization. Breastfeeding recommendations [Internet]. [cited 2023 Sep 6]. Available from: https://www.who.int/health-topics/breastfeeding#tab=tab_2. Accessed 9/6/2023.

  5. Perrin MT, Wilson E, Chetwynd E, Fogleman A. A pilot study on the protein composition of induced nonpuerperal human milk. J Hum Lact. 2015;31(1):166–71.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Kulski JK, Hartmann PE, Saint WJ, Giles PF, Gutteridge DH. Changes in the milk composition of nonpuerperal women. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1981;139(5):597–604.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Weimer AK. Lactation Induction in a Transgender Woman: Macronutrient Analysis and Patient Perspectives. J Hum Lact. 2023;39(3):488–94.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Auerbach KG, Avery JL. Induced Lactation. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 1981;36(11):615.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Cazorla-Ortiz G, Obregón-Guitérrez N, Rozas-Garcia MR, Goberna-Tricas J. Methods and Success Factors of Induced Lactation: A Scoping Review. J Hum Lact. 2020;36(4):739–49.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Farrow A. Lactation support and the LGBTQI community. J Hum Lact. 2015;31(1):26–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Trautner E, McCool-Myers M, Joyner AB. Knowledge and practice of induction of lactation in trans women among professionals working in trans health. Int Breastfeed J. 2020;15(1):1–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Wamboldt R, Shuster S, Sidhu BS. Lactation Induction in a Transgender Woman Wanting to Breastfeed: Case Report. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2021;106(5):E2047–52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Reisman T, Goldstein Z. Case Report: Induced Lactation in a Transgender Woman. Transgend Health. 2018;3(1):24–6.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. United States Food and Drug Administration. FDA Talk Paper: FDA warns against women using unapproved drug, domperidone, to increase milk production. [Internet]. FDA; 2004. Available from: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/information-drug-class/fda-talk-paper-fda-warns-against-women-using-unapproved-drug-domperidone-increase-milk-production. Accessed 9/6/2023.

  15. Ferri RL, Rosen-Carole CB, Jackson J, Carreno-Rijo E, Greenberg KB. ABM Clinical Protocol #33: Lactation Care for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Plus Patients. Breastfeed Med. 2020;15(5):284–93.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Da Silva OP, Knoppert DC. Domperidone for lactating women. Cmaj. 2004;171(7):725–6.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Bazzano AN, Hofer R, Thibeau S, Gillispie V, Jacobs M, Theall KP. A review of herbal and pharmaceutical galactagogues for breast-feeding. Ochsner J. 2016;16(4):511–24.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Ingram J, Taylor H, Churchill C, Pike A, Greenwood R. Metoclopramide or domperidone for increasing maternal breast milk output: A randomised controlled trial. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2012;97(4):241–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Hussain NHN, Noor NM, Ismail SB, Zainuddin NA, Sulaiman Z. Metoclopramide for Milk Production in Lactating Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Korean J Fam Med. 2021;42(6):453–63.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  20. Zuppa AA, Sindico P, Orchi C, Carducci C, Cardiello V, Romagnoli C, et al. Safety and efficacy of galactogogues: Substances that induce, maintain and increase breast milk production. J Pharm Pharm Sci. 2010;13(2):162–74.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Lee S, Kelleher SL. Biological underpinnings of breastfeeding challenges: The role of genetics, diet, and environment on lactation physiology. Am J Physiol - Endocrinol Metab. 2016;311(2):E405–22.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Reisman T, Goldstein Z, Safer JD. A review of breast development in cisgender women and implications for transgender women. Endocr Pract. 2019;25(12):1338–45.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Alex A, Bhandary E, McGuire KP. Anatomy and physiology of the breast during pregnancy and lactation. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2020;1252:3–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Bryant CA. Nursing the Adopted Infant. J. Am. Board Fam. Med. 2006;19(4):374–9.

  25. Freeman ME, Kanyicska B, Lerant A, Nagy G. Prolactin: Structure, function, and regulation of secretion. Knobil Neills Physiol Reprod. 2006;80(4):1703–26.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Silva KSC, Aquino NSS, Gusmao DO, Henriques PC, Reis AM, Szawka RE. Reduced dopaminergic tone during lactation is permissive to the hypothalamic stimulus for suckling-induced prolactin release. J Neuroendocrinol. 2020;32(11):1–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. MacDonald TK. Lactation Care for Transgender and Non-Binary Patients: Empowering Clients and Avoiding Aversives. J Hum Lact. 2019;35(2):223–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Burns K. Them. 2018. Yes, Trans Women Can Breastfeed — Here’s How. Available from: https://www.them.us/story/trans-women-breastfeed. Accessed 16 Jan 2022.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Baila Elkin MD.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest:

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Elkin, B., Duran, A., Rauwerdink, K. et al. Inducing Lactation in a Transgender Woman Without Galactagogues: A Case Report. J GEN INTERN MED (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-024-08808-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-024-08808-5

Navigation