Forearm bone density in users of Depo-Provera as a contraceptive method.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the influence of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) on bone mineral density when used as a contraceptive method.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Academic tertiary-care hospital.


METHODS
Fifty premenopausal women who had used depot MPA as a contraceptive method for > or =1 year and 50 women who had never used hormonal contraceptive methods.


METHODS
Bone mineral density was evaluated at the midshaft and at the distal radius of the nondominant forearm using single x-ray absorptiometry.


METHODS
Bone mineral density.


RESULTS
Bone mineral density at the midshaft of the forearm was lower in depot MPA users than in women who had never used hormonal contraceptive methods, but the difference was not statistically significant. At the distal portion, bone mineral density was significantly lower in the study group. The duration of depot MPA use was not related to bone mineral density.


CONCLUSIONS
Women > or =35 years of age presented with a lower bone mineral density only at the distal portion of the forearm after the use of depot MPA for > or =1 year. However, this decrease was not related to the duration of depot MPA use. It is not possible to conclude that women who use depot MPA are at risk of osteoporosis.
Bahamondes
L
L
Departamento de Tocoginecologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil. bahamond@turing.unicamp.br
Perrotti
M
M
Castro
S
S
Faúndes
D
D
Petta
C
C
Bedone
A
A
D000328:Adult; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017697:Premenopause; D011884:Radius / Q000187:drug effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014457:Ulna / Q000187:drug effects*
D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate