A recent anthropological study, published in the American Journal of Human Biology, asserts that there may be a link between the reproductive ability in women and the status of their immune system.
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The study involved testing for levels of progesterone and C-reactive protein (CRP) in a group of premenopausal women who participated in traditional farming practices. CRP is commonly used as a marker for inflammation but, with a few other factors, it can also be used to gain information about psychosocial stress levels in a person and the status of their immune system.
According to Kathryn Clancy, who headed the study, the human body carefully allocates its energy resources with a priority on maintenance, which includes functions for survival such as immune function. Any leftover energy is then dedicated to reproductive function.
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The researchers found that participants in the study with high CRP or stress levels had lower levels of progesterone, which signals one of two things. It could be an effect of inflammation that suppresses ovarian function, or an effect of external stressors, like immune challenges that force the body to allot more energy to maintenance function and less to reproductive effort. In addition, they also found that estradiol and the age of first menstruation were the strongest negative predictors of CRP levels.
Overall, the study supported existing models about the trade-offs between maintenance functions and reproduction in women. The findings are also expected to help more women understand their bodies better as they understand the timing of many different life events.
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Find more links to interesting articles about reproductive health for females on this Facebook page for Cristian Andronic.
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