ABSTRACT
This study aimed to assess the relationship between the prolactin [PRL] level and the duration of lactational amenorrhoea in lactating Sudanese women. Sudanese women [135] from Omdurman area with different ages [18- 41 years] and stages of lactation were included, 61 of them participated by giving venous blood samples and filling a questionnaire, while the others by filling the questionnaire only. Pregnant women, contraceptives users, and hypothyroid patients were excluded. The subjects were divided into lactational amenorrhoeic [Group I], and lactating menstruating subjects [Group II]. Then each group was subdivided according to the duration of lactation into: - Lactating for six months or less. Lactating for more than six months. Prolactin level was measured using radioimmunoassay [RIA]. In this study the mean prolactin level in-group I [2934.99 mU/L] was significantly higher compared with group II [707.46 mU/L] [P<0.05]. For the duration of lactation, PRL level in the first six months was higher [4414 mU/L], [1506.60 mU/L] in group I, and group II respectively, while this level decreased after six months [1538 mU/L], [517.19 mU/L] for the two groups. Also we found that factors like breast-feeding patterns, utilization of supplementary foods, and the number of parities had a significant effect on the duration of lactational amenorrhoea. There was a positive relationship between PRL level and the duration of lactational amenorrhoea [r=0.39]