Pregnancy- and lactation-related bone fragility: The hidden risk
Mustafa Ünal1
, Koray Görkem Saçıntı2,3, Erdem Aras Sezgin4
1Department of Orthopedics, Harvard Medical School, The Center For Advanced Orthopedic Studies, BIDMC, Boston, MA, USA
2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aksaray University Training and Research Hospital, Aksaray, Türkiye
3Department of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
4Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
Keywords: Fracture, fragility, gynecology, lactation, osteoporosis, pregnancy.
Abstract
Pregnancy and lactation significantly alter bone homeostasis, potentially leading to impaired bone quality and mineralization due to the increased metabolic demands of the developing offspring. While most women with osteopenia during these periods experience a return to baseline bone density after weaning, some may remain at risk for fractures, particularly in cancellous bone. There are inconsistencies in current reports on fracture risk and appropriate treatment strategies. In this review, we discuss the existing evidence on the diagnosis, clinical presentation, and approaches for preventing and managing bone fragility in this unique population.
Citation: Ünal M, Saçıntı KG, Sezgin EA. Pregnancy- and lactation-related bone fragility: The hidden risk. Jt Dis Relat Surg 2025;36(1):i-iii.