Adolescent pregnancy; a determinant of bone mineral density in peri-menopausal women?
OBJECTIVE
The present study aims to determine the effects of a history of adolescent pregnancy (AP) on the bone mineral density (BMD) of perimenopausal women.


METHODS
Overall, 240 women aged between 40 and 55 years, with a complaint of oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea not exceeding 1 year in duration, were evaluated. Evaluation included a DEXA scan and a detailed demographic survey for bone health. Comparison was made between women with a history of AP and those without.


RESULTS
In total, 87 women who had a history of AP were compared with 153 women who did not have a history of AP. The study groups did not differ significantly for most of the evaluated demographic factors. Women with a history of AP had higher gravidity and parity. Comparison of T-scores revealed lumbar BMD to be unaffected by AP (P=0.184), whereas femoral BMD was positively influenced by a history of AP (0.78±0.65 vs -1.06±0.67; P=0.042). In covariance regression models, after adjusting for parity and age of first menarche, AP still positively influenced femoral BMD. Without a history of AP, women were at increased risk for osteoporosis of femoral neck (odds ratio, 2.8, 95% CI 1.75-4.8).


CONCLUSIONS
The effects of AP on BMD are not well elucidated. Women with a history of AP had better femoral BMD scores, indicating a possible protective influence of AP on bone health.


METHODS
Pregnancy during adolescence is associated with a better femoral bone mineral density than pregnancy at an older age. However, the effects did not extend to lumbar spine bone mineral density.
Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Turkey.
Tuncay
T
Yüce
Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Turkey.
Erkan
E
Kalafat
Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Turkey. Electronic address: ekalafat@ankara.edu.tr.
Acar
A
Koc
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015519:Bone Density; D005260:Female; D005272:Femur Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence; D012307:Risk Factors
Adolescence; Bone mass; DEXA scan; Osteoporosis; Perimenopausal; Pregnancy