Suppression of lactation in the puerperal breast frequently is desirable or necessary. After premature or still births, toxemia of pregnancy and some cesarean sections, when there is malformation or abscess of the breast or cracked nipples and in the presence of certain constitutional diseases, such as tuberculosis, diabetes and heart disease, there is valid reason to prohibit lactation. The measures employed for this purpose, until recently, were empiric and generally consisted of application of tight breast binders, with camphor liniment or belladonna unctions, restriction of fluids, saline purges and numerous other procedures of questionable value.
Kurzrok and O'Connell1 first demonstrated that it is possible to inhibit lactation in women by administering androgen in the form of testosterone propionate. They reported successful results in 19 of 21 cases.
Birnberg, Kurzrok and Klor2 later reported using testosterone propionate to inhibit lactation in a series of 56 cases, with successful results