Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2026 Jan 26. doi: 10.55563/clinexprheumatol/pg971k. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic musculoskeletal pain syndrome predominantly affecting women, suggesting possible links with reproductive and hormonal factors. Although reproductive history has been associated with various long-term health conditions, its role in FM remains insufficiently explored. This study aimed to investigate the association between parity, age at first pregnancy, and the presence of fibromyalgia among women of reproductive age.
METHODS: This cross-sectional observational study included 260 women aged 18-50 years with at least one prior live birth, recruited from Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rheumatology, and Gynaecology Outpatient Clinics between March and December 2024. Demographic, clinical, and reproductive data were collected through structured interviews and medical records. FM diagnosis was based on the 2016 revised criteria of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) using Widespread Pain Index (WPI) and Symptom Severity Scale (SSS) scores; the Global Symptom Score (GSS) was defined as their sum. Statistical analyses included independent-sample t-tests, chi-square tests, and multivariate logistic regression adjusting for age, body mass index, comorbidities, and educational level.
RESULTS: FM was diagnosed in 104 participants (40%). Women with three or more live births had a significantly higher prevalence of FM compared with those with fewer births (p=0.006). In multivariate analysis, grand multiparity remained independently associated with FM (adjusted OR = 2.46, 95% CI = 1.28-4.72, p=0.006). No significant association was found between age at first pregnancy and FM (p>0.05). FM-diagnosed participants reported significantly higher WPI, SSS, and GSS scores (p=0.001 for all), with strong correlations between WPI and both GSS (r=0.782) and SSS (r=0.472).
CONCLUSIONS: Grand multiparity was independently associated with fibromyalgia, suggesting that cumulative hormonal and physiological stress from multiple pregnancies may contribute to chronic pain susceptibility. No association was found between age at first pregnancy and FM. Larger, longitudinal studies are warranted to clarify causal pathways between reproductive history and FM pathogenesis.
PMID:41678172 | DOI:10.55563/clinexprheumatol/pg971k
