The relation between bone mineral density and early pregnancy loss.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if women who suffer from early pregnancy loss are at increased risk of osteoporosis later in life.


METHODS
Part of a community screening project for bone mineral density (BMD).


METHODS
392 women aged 50-54 who had had from 0 to 6 miscarriages out of 0 to 8 term pregnancies.


METHODS
BMD measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry at both the lumbar spine and the proximal femur.


RESULTS
The mean BMD in nulligravid women was not significantly different from those whose only pregnancies ended in early loss. There was no significant correlation between the BMD at either the lumbar spine or the proximal femur and the number of miscarriages (r = 0.03 and 0.01, respectively). The BMD of the lumbar spine and femoral neck were not affected by parity (P = 0.08 and P = 0.87, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The risk of osteoporosis was not influenced by parity or the number of previous miscarriages.
Hamed
H M
HM
Department of Gynaecology, Princess Royal Hospital, Hull, UK.
Purdie
D W
DW
Steel
S A
SA
Howey
S
S
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000150:complications*; D015519:Bone Density; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005272:Femur Neck; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000209:etiology*; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors