Publications by authors named "Laurel Leavitt"
The female skeleton undergoes substantial structural changes during the course of reproduction. Although bone mineral density recovers postweaning, reproduction may induce permanent alterations in maternal bone microarchitecture. However, epidemiological studies suggest that a history of pregnancy and/or lactation does not increase the risk of postmenopausal osteoporosis or fracture and may even have a protective effect.
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- Osteoporosis primarily affects postmenopausal women, who are six times more likely to develop this condition than men over 65, largely due to changes in bone remodeling after menopause.
- Studies indicate that factors such as peak bone mass and changes during pregnancy/lactation influence osteoporosis risk, though reproductive history itself doesn't seem to increase this risk.
- Research on rat models shows that virgin females have stronger bones than males, but post-reproductive females show structural changes in their bones that resemble male patterns, suggesting females may have evolved to have more bone density to offset potential reproductive losses without increasing fracture risk later in life.