Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Changes in Mammary Gland Morphology and Breast Cancer Risk in Rats
Published on: October 16, 2010
Breast cancer risk in women: the protective role of pregnancy
Vassiliki Costarelli1, Nikos Yiannakouris
1Human Ecology Laboratory, Department of Home Economics and Ecology, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece. costarv@hua.gr
Abstract:
Many countries have experienced a pronounced shift towards later childbearing in recent years. Having children later in life has become a characteristic of contemporary fertility in affluent societies. Childbearing, particularly at a younger age, has been shown consistently to reduce the risk of breast cancer in the long term. Breast cancer constitutes the most common cancer in women and is an important public health concern worldwide. Early age at full-term pregnancy lowers the risk of breast cancer in women, whereas in older women first full-term pregnancy appears to increase the risk. Lactation seems to be relatively important in reducing the risk and abortion is associated neither with increased nor reduced risk. Several hypotheses have been proposed to account for the protective effects of parity. These include an altered systemic hormonal environment and an altered mammary cell fate.
Related Concept Videos
Cancer Prevention
Some...
Cancer Prevention
Some...
Disorders of the Female Reproductive System
Mitral Valve Prolapse III: Nursing Management
Probability Laws
Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast, controlled...
