Effect of parity on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women

Purpose: There have been a lot of risk factors for osteoprosis which is an important communal health problem. A variety of features, belonging to reproductive periods of women can affect the progress of osteoporosis. We have planned to search whether one of the reproductive factors, which is parity, is a risk factor for the progress of postmenopausal osteoporosis or not.Material-Method: This research has been realized on 328 postmenopausal women who have applied to Düzce University, Faculty of Medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Polyclinic. Patients, who have secondary osteoporosis and risk factors, have not been included in this research. The patients have been categorized into 4 groups, such as patients who have never given birth, given birth once and twice, three and four times, five times and over. Bone mineral density of the patients have been examined from femoral neck and lomber vertebrae region (L1-L4). PASW programme has been used for the statistical analyses of the research.Results: As a result of the estimations, a negative correlation has been found both in bone mineral density of femoral neck and lomber vertebrae with parity (p=0.002 and p=0.010). When the patients are examined according to their age group, a meaningful relation has been found between parity and bone mineral density only in 50-60 age group. A meaningful relation has not been found between parity and osteoporotic fracture.Conclusion: It has been found that increased parity is a factor, decreasing the bone mineral density. We have concluded that the early detection and treatment of osteoporosis can be realized with the search of the parity, while the risk factors for osteoporosis are being examined on women who are in postmenopausal period. Finally, it has been concluded that since many different results have been concluded from this subject, some new researches must be done so as to enlighten this subject.Key Words: Parity, Bone Mineral Density, Postmenopausal Osteoporosis