because women can age after each birth

White hair, marked dark circles, first wrinkles … Small signs of aging often appear after childbirth. Beyond the appearance, a new study confirms that the more a woman gives life, the more she accelerates the physical aging process of her body.

Metabolic, immunological and endocrinological changes

“Our findings indicate that pregnancy and childbirth can contribute to the modification and deregulation of different physiological systems, which can affect aging once a woman has gone through menopause,” summarizes Talia Shirazi, co-author of the research. “These findings are consistent with the metabolic, immunological and endocrinological changes occurring in the body of women during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as well as with the various disease risks associated with pregnancy and investment more generally. reproductive “, continues the scientist. Women who have given birth are more likely to die from diabetes, kidney disease and high blood pressure.

It captures the age of the major organ systems of the body

For this study, the scientists used a cohort of 4,418 women. Researchers measured their biological aging based on the following biomarkers: liver and kidney function, anemia and red blood cell disorders, as well as immune function and inflammation. “We wanted to capture the age and function of the body’s major organ systems, instead of looking at aging at the cellular level,” says Waylon Hastings, co-author of the study.

In 2019 in France, the total fertility rate (ICF) stood at 1.87 children per woman, compared with 1.88 in 2018. After four years of decline between 2015 and 2018, the ICF is therefore stabilizing . It was around 2 children per woman between 2006 and 2014.