Osteoporosis and pregnancy

Pregnancy-associated osteoporosis

Pregnancy-associated osteoporosis is believed to be a rare condition that is usually detected in the third trimester of a woman’s pregnancy or after giving birth. It typically occurs during a woman’s first pregnancy, is temporary, and does not happen again. Women affected usually complain of back pain, have a loss of height, and have vertebral fractures.

The causes of pregnancy-associated osteoporosis, such as genetic factors or steroid use, are being studied. Even though there is stress on a pregnant woman’s calcium supply, and calcium leaves her body more often because of frequent urination, other changes during pregnancy, like increases in estrogen and weight gain, may actually help bone density. There is much more to be learned about how a woman’s bone density is affected by pregnancy.

Bone loss during breastfeeding

Although bone density can be lost during breastfeeding, this loss tends to be temporary. Several studies have shown that when women have bone loss during lactation, they recover full bone density within six months after weaning.