| Objective To examine the relationship between reproductive characteristics and bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women. Methods A total of 200 menopausal women with osteoporosis admitted to our hospital from March 2014 to July 2016 were selected as candidates. Some socio-demographic, life style, and reproductive factors were recorded. BMD of the lumbar spine 1-4 (L1-4) was measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Correlations between reproductive factors and BMD were assessed by Pearson's correlation test and multiple regression analysis. Results Age at menopause was not significantly correlated with BMD. The years after menopause, age at the first menstrual period, number of pregnancies, and total lactation periods were negatively correlated with BMD. Among reproductive factors, only the association between lactation duration and BMD remained significant after adjusting for age, body mass index, activity, and calcium intake. Conclusion The results indicate that except for prolonged total time of lactation, other reproductive factors are not significantly associated with BMD in postmenopausal women. |