Research on pregnancy intervals and biological aging

Scientific research published in Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism suggests that short intervals between pregnancies may accelerate biological aging in women. Researchers from Harvard Medical School and Mass General Brigham analyzed data from approximately 47 million pregnancies to investigate how intergenésic intervals affect maternal health.

While pregnancy causes endocrine, immune, and metabolic changes that temporarily increase biological age, these changes typically reverse during the postpartum period. The study hypothesizes that when pregnancies occur too closely together, the body may lack sufficient time to complete the natural recovery process, leading to the progressive accumulation of physical wear. Factors such as maternal age, BMI, nutritional status, and socioeconomic conditions may influence recovery rates. The World Health Organization currently recommends a minimum of 24 months between a live birth and the next conception.

This research builds on evidence that biological age increases during pregnancy and physiological stress before partially recovering. Experts note that biological decline typically begins around age 35, characterized by the loss of muscle and bone mass and molecular hallmarks such as the shortening of telomeres.