# Male lactation

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-lactation/284230>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [January 11, 2005, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-lactation/284230 "2005-01-11T16:49:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![bumsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@bumsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bumsky)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-lactation/284230/1 "2005-01-11T16:49:02Z")

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Actually, Cecil, it is QUITE possible for a man, ANY man, to not only lactate, but produce a FULL milk supply for an infant. It has been done. I know this doesn’t do anything for your sense of masculinity, but if you would kindly click on this link…

[http://www.unassistedchildbirth.com/milkmen.htm](http://www.unassistedchildbirth.com/milkmen.htm)

you can read some very interesting case studies of men breastfeeding. Yes breastfeeding you read me right.

Men not only have the anatomical structures required to breastfeed, but they also have the right hormones. Yes, guys, you are all swimming in a pool of estrogen. That’ll make you think twice before calling you girlfriend hormonal once again huh?

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**Author:** ![biqu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7feea3/32.png) [@biqu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biqu)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-lactation/284230/2 "2005-01-11T21:13:24Z")

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In [one](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_093.html) of the [two](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_321.html) columns to which the OP might be referring, Cecil says,

> [@Cecil Adams](#):
>
> So far as anybody knows, male lactation has never developed in any mammalian species.

But that was written back in 1979, and the link in the OP refers to more recent observations, even though one anecdotal story of male lactation in that link dates to 1896.

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**Author:** ![Quint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/76d3ee/32.png) [@Quint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint)\
**Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-lactation/284230/3 "2005-01-12T04:14:55Z")

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> [@bumsky](#):
>
> Actually, Cecil, it is QUITE possible for a man, ANY man, to not only lactate, but produce a FULL milk supply for an infant.  
> [http://www.unassistedchildbirth.com/milkmen.htm](http://www.unassistedchildbirth.com/milkmen.htm)

I am curious if you are correct. I looked into this when my daughter was born, but the research I did indicated it was possible for some men, but not all. From the link you provided:

" The chapter includes a passage written by a man in Australia who nursed his daughter until she was a year old. While the man didn’t attempt to produce milk, he found the emotional connection he made with her very gratifying. "