Pregnancy may delay onset of MS symptoms

Pregnancy may delay the onset of multiple sclerosis symptoms by up to three years, according to new research. Looking at a cohort of more than 2,500 women across two countries, scientists found that women who had previously been pregnant or had given birth tended to have their first episode of an MS-related symptom at a later age, an average of three years and three or four months later, than those who had never gotten pregnant. Although the study didn't assess risk, the authors hypothesize that changes to the body that occur during pregnancy may play a role in keeping MS symptoms at bay for a few years longer than those who don't experience pregnancy or childbirth.