pubmed:otherAbstract |
PIP: The impact of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate use on bone mineral density was assessed in a cross-sectional study of 100 women recruited from a teaching hospital in Campinas, Brazil, during 1996-98. Bone mineral density, as evaluated at the midshaft and distal radius of the nondominant forearm by single x-ray absorptiometry, was compared in 50 women 35-45 years of age who had been using Depo-Provera for contraception for 1 year or more (mean duration, 46.4 +or- 38.6 months) but had never used any other hormonal method and 50 age- and weight-matched women who had never used any form of hormonal contraception. Although mean bone mineral density at the midshaft of the forearm was lower in Depo-Provera users than nonusers of hormonal contraception (0.459 +or- 0.042 vs. 0.474 +or- 0.049 g/sq. cm), the difference was not statistically significant. At the distal portion, bone mineral density was significantly lower in Depo-Provera users than nonusers of hormonal methods (0.362 +or- 0.040 vs. 0.392 +or- 0.049 g/sq. cm, p 0.001). The duration of Depo-Provera use was not related to bone mineral density, even when women had used the method for more than 5 years. Multiple regression analysis indicated that 4 pregnancies, White race, and Depo-Provera use were significantly associated with lower bone mineral density at the midshaft section of the forearm; at the distal section of the forearm, these variables were Depo-Provera use, more than 4 pregnancies, White race, older age at menarche, and habitual coffee drinking. These findings do not provide sufficient evidence to conclude that Depo-Provera users are at increased risk of osteoporosis.
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