Reproduction Alters Females’ Bones In Ways Not Known Before

A team of anthropologists has recently found that reproduction permanently alters females’ bones in ways not known before. The findings that came as a result of the examination of primates establish that giving birth can make permanent alterations to the body.

The findings of the study published in the journal PLOS ONE revealed that calcium, magnesium and phosphorus concentrations are lower in females who have experienced reproduction.

"As there is an increased demand for calcium during pregnancy and breastfeeding, the woman requires extra calcium supplements during this time period or else the bones may become deficient. As the bones are not a rigid structure, they are constantly evolving, so they adapt to the status of the body at a certain time. Also, if the body is deficient in calcium, then the bones can become weak," said Dr Preeti Rastogi, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram.

Our findings provide additional evidence of the profound impact that reproduction has on the female organism, further demonstrating that the skeleton is not a static organ, but a dynamic one that changes with life events, said the lead researcher of the study, Paola Cerrito, a doctoral student in NYU’s Department of Anthropology and College of Dentistry.

Taking about the dynamic nature of our bones, Shara Bailey, one of the study’s authors and an anthropologist at NYU, said that bone is not a static and dead portion of the skeleton. It continuously adjusts and responds to physiological processes.

“Women’s bodies go through many changes, starting with puberty, the reproductive stage, and then menopause. Puberty is the time when women’s hormones get active and the girls start having menstruation, developing secondary sexual characteristics. There is a growth spurt as well, which happens at the stage of puberty. So, the demand for calcium increases. But usually, this demand can be supplemented by a nutritious diet, and more or less extra supplements are not required," Dr Rastogi added.

Shedding light on the bone health of women, Dr Rastogi stated that women’s bodies go through many changes, starting with puberty, the reproductive stage, and then menopause. Puberty is the time when women’s hormones get active and the girls start having menstruation, developing secondary sexual characteristics. There is a growth spurt as well, which happens at the stage of puberty. So, the demand for calcium increases. But usually, this demand can be met by a nutritious diet, and more or less, extra supplements are not required.

"On the contrary, menopause is a stage where the reproductive organs stop working. As we know, female hormones are very important for bone and heart health and after menopause, when the ovaries stop working, the female hormone estrogen is reduced in our body, which can lead to osteoporosis, so this time period is quite crucial for bone health," the doctor added.

Their results underlined the different concentrations of elements in female who gave birth in comparison with males as well as females who did not give birth. For instance, in female who gave birth, calcium and phosphorus were lower in bone formed during reproductive events. Also, it showed a significant decline in magnesium concentration during these primates’ breastfeeding of infants. 

There are different measures that somebody can adopt to maintain bone health, of which the most important one is physical activity. All the changes that have happened in pregnancy, like weight gain, abdominal distension, laxity of muscle, weakness, and hormone changes, all need to go back to normal. During pregnancy, as there is pressure of the uterus on the pelvic floor, the muscles tend to get weak, so we need to get them toned.