Did you get “old” after your birth? The study explains why

As we know, pregnancy and childbirth cause upheavals on the body, both visible and invisible. In a study published in the journal Scientific reports, American researchers from Penn State University even explain that having several pregnancies can accelerate the biological aging process.

Physiological changes caused by pregnancy

For the studies, the researchers used data from 4,418 women. They took into account their state of health, the number of pregnancies completed and whether or not they were in menopause. They analyzed nine biomarkers that these women, to identify different metabolic disorders, anemia, inflammation, red blood cell disorders or immune and renal dysfunction. “We wanted to study measures that could help to know the age and function of major organs in the body, instead of looking at aging at the cellular level. When we think of pregnancy, we don’t think about individual changes in cells but rather how the immune system changes. or metabolism “explains researcher Waylon Hastins in a Penn State statement.

“Our findings indicate that pregnancy and childbirth can contribute to the modification and deregulation of different physiological systems that can affect aging after a woman has entered menopause.Doctor Talia Shirazi explains. In a press release from the university, the anthropology and biology researcher who is co-author of the study adds : “these conclusions are in line with the metabolic, immunological and endocrinological changes that occur in the body of women during pregnancy and breastfeeding”.

Having multiple pregnancies would accelerate biological aging

The researchers point out that pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding require a lot of energy from the mother, which can have an impact on several things from a physiological point of view: the immune system, metabolism and blood pressure and especially at the moment. of menopause. Women who have had several biological children would therefore be at greater risk of being affected and dying from kidney disease, diabetes or hypertension.

“Previous research has shown that ovarian hormones in general protect against certain processes at the cellular level that may accelerate aging. It is therefore possible that in premenopausal women, the effect of hormones mitigates the potential negative effect of pregnancy and reproduction. on the biological acceleration of age. And then, perhaps when those hormones are gone, the effects could manifest. “explains Dr. Shirazi. For her and her team, more research is needed to confirm this link between hormones, pregnancy and aging. “This transition to menopause and female reproductive health in general is largely underestimated and not as well understood as it should be today. So, if we can see that there are these changes in aging based on reproduction and menopause, and we don’t have a good explanation why, then this is a sign we should investigate. more “, says Waylon Hastings.