Childbirth in 20s Reduces Chances of Breast Cancer

Women giving birth in their 20s are less vulnerable to breast cancer, a latest research shows.

The study published in the journal Cell Stem Cell, shows that two common reasons for breast cancer are increasing obesity and delayed pregnancy. The researchers studied the effects of pregnancy in women of different age groups.

The research led by Kornelia Polyak, explained that women giving birth in their early 20s reduce the relative number of certain mammary gland cells, termed progenitors cells. They said that these cells can divide into milk-producing cells and are likely to acquire mutations that lead to breast cancer.

For the study, the researchers compared different breast tissue samples. They found that women at high risk for breast cancer have higher-than-average numbers of mammary gland progenitors. Further evaluation also showed that women having full-term pregnancy had the lowest populations of mammary gland progenitors, despite being compared with women without cancer who had never been pregnant.

The researchers found mammary gland progenitors to be higher than average in women who experienced childbirth early but developed breast cancer later in life. They said that the progenitor cells could be useful in detecting breast cancer in women.

Various researches have shown the side-effects of conceiving late. Women are at higher risk of getting Down's Syndrome, diabetes, miscarriage, high blood pressure, low birth weight and premature babies.

According to Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, women giving birth in their 40s and 50s are at a record high. In 2007, 105,071 women between 40 and 44 gave birth; the highest rate since 1968.