Can you take drospirenone while breastfeeding?
What LactMed says
The National Library of Medicine’s own summary, quoted in full. We do not write a verdict of our own on this question, and we do not compress theirs into a label.
Drospirenone is a progestin that is an analogue of spironolactone. It has antimineralocorticoid and antiandrogenic activities. Amounts in milk are very low and no adverse effects on the breasted infant or milk supply are expected. Expert opinion holds that the risks of progestin-only contraceptive products usually are acceptable for nursing mothers at any time postpartum. For further information, consult the record entitled, Contraceptives, Oral, Combined.
Quoted from Drospirenone — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised December 15, 2025.
What LactMed would consider instead
LactMed ends this record by naming the drugs it would consider in place of drospirenone. Whether any of them fits depends on what you are treating — this is the database’s list, not a recommendation from us.
- Etonogestrel
- Intrauterine Copper Contraceptive
- Oral Levonorgestrel
- Intrauterine Levonorgestrel
- Levonorgestrel Implant
- Medroxyprogesterone Acetate
- Norethindrone
- Progesterone
How much drospirenone gets into breastmilk
Maternal Levels. Six women who were between 1 week and 3 months postpartum received a single dose of drospirenone 3 mg plus ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg. Milk was collected for 72 hours after the dose in 2 of the women in whom half-lives in breastmilk were 8.3 and 15.5 hours. The average peak milk level in the 6 women was 13.5 mcg/L at 2.8 hours after the dose. The average drospirenone milk level in the first 24 hours was 3.7 mcg/L (range 1.4 to 7 mcg/L). The authors estimated that a fully breastfed infant would receive a drospirenone dose of about 3 mcg daily. Using the average milk level of drospirenone, an exclusively breastfed infant would receive 1.1% of the weight-adjusted maternal dosage of drospirenone.
Twelve women who had weaned their infants, but were still lactating were given non-micronized oral drospirenone 4 mg daily (Slinda-Exeltis, Germany). Blood and milk samples were obtained at 12 time points up to 120 hours after at least 7 days of use. The average peak concentration in milk was 10.3 mcg/L at 3 hours after the dose and the average milk concentration over 24 hours would be 5.6 mcg/L. Using the standard milk intake value of 150 mL/kg daily, the infant would receive an average of 0.84 mcg/kg of drospirenone daily, which represent a weight-adjusted relative infant dose of 1.25% of the maternal dose.
Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
What has been seen in breastfed infants
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take drospirenone while breastfeeding?
Drospirenone is a progestin that is an analogue of spironolactone. The full record is quoted on this page, and the decision is one to make with the person who prescribed it — LactMed itself states it is not a substitute for professional judgement.
What can I take instead of drospirenone while breastfeeding?
LactMed lists Etonogestrel, Intrauterine Copper Contraceptive, Oral Levonorgestrel, Intrauterine Levonorgestrel, Levonorgestrel Implant, Medroxyprogesterone Acetate, Norethindrone, Progesterone as alternate drugs to consider. That is the database's own list for this drug — whether any of them suits you depends on what you are treating.
Does drospirenone pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for drospirenone are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking drospirenone?
LactMed does not frame its records that way — it reports measured drug levels in milk and what has been observed in breastfed infants, which is what this page quotes. "Pump and dump" advice for a specific drug and dose should come from your clinician or a pharmacist, not from a general rule.
More on drospirenone
LactMed states that the information it presents is not a substitute for professional judgement, and that you should consult your healthcare provider for breastfeeding advice related to your particular situation. Nothing on this page is medical advice.