Pregnancy and Lactation-Associated Osteoporosis

Abstract

Pregnancy and lactation associated osteoporosis (PLAO) is a very rare condition seen during the last three months of the pregnancy or at early postpartum period1,2. It was first defined by Nordin and Roper3 in 1955. It is characterized by pain due to vertebral fractures. There are cases in which rarely pelvis, sacral and wrist fractures have been reported4. Its etiology has not been clearly defined. Risk factors associated with pregnancyrelated osteoporosis include genetic factors, physical inactivity, malnutrition, low body weight, osteoporotic fracture history in family members, and secondary osteoporosis3,4. The high prevalence of fracture seen in female relatives of patients diagnosed with PLAO suggests an underlying genetic component2,5,6. Anorexia and oligomenoria history can be seen in PLAO patients7.