Bone mass and long-term monophasic oral contraceptive treatment in young women.
A prospective study has been designed to investigate bone metabolism in young women taking an oral monophasic contraceptive formulation (ethinylestradiol 20 micrograms + desogestrel 0.150 mg) over 5 years. Healthy women (n = 200) between 19 and 22 years of age were divided into two groups. Group A received oral contraception, Group B did not receive any treatment. All the subjects underwent a bone mass density (BMD) evaluation at spinal level L2-L4 with Dexa (Norland XR-26) and a measurement of the serum alkaline phosphatase levels and urinary excretion of OH-proline at baseline and every 12 months over 5 years. Our results demonstrated that Group A did not show any significant BMD change after 5 years of oral contraceptive treatment, while Group B demonstrated a significant increase (p < 0.01) in the bone mass content at the end of the time of observation (+7.8% after 5 years). No significant changes were found in serum alkaline phosphatase levels and in urinary excretion of OH-proline at the end of the study in comparison with basal levels in both groups. Our data suggested that long-term treatment with an oral monophasic contraceptive formulation (ethinylestradiol 20 micrograms + desogestrel 0.150 mg) did not modify the BMD but prevented the occurrence of the physiologic peak of bone mass in young women.
Polatti
F
F
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo), Pavia, Italy.
Perotti
F
F
Filippa
N
N
Gallina
D
D
Nappi
R E
RE
D000328:Adult; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D015519:Bone Density; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D017135:Desogestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000652:urine; D011446:Prospective Studies
D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D017135:Desogestrel; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D006909:Hydroxyproline