Longitudinal evaluation of perimenopausal bone loss: effects of different low dose oral contraceptive preparations on bone mineral density.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the pattern of mineral density in eumenorrhoic and oligomenorrhoic perimenopausal women, and assess the effects of different low dose oral contraceptives (OC) on bone metabolism and spine bone density.


METHODS
Spine bone density was evaluated in a longitudinal 2-year follow-up, randomized, unblinded, uncontrolled clinical trial conducted in healthy, normally menstruating perimenopausal women, perimenopausal oligomenorrhoic women and in perimenopausal oligomenorrhoic women treated with an oral contraceptive containing 20 microg ethinyl estradiol plus 0.15 mg desogestrel, 0.100 mg levonorgestrel, 0.75 mg of gestodene (n=15 in each group). The results were analyzed by factorial or repeated measures analysis of variance, as appropriate.


RESULTS
During the observation period, in normal menstruating women there were no changes in menstrual cycle, plasma FSH and estradiol levels, and spine bone density. In oligomenorrhoic untreated women an increase in cycle length, with a concomitant decrease in plasma estradiol and an increase in plasma FSH levels were evidenced (p<0.05). In this group a significant decrease in bone density (p<0.05) occurred. In OC-treated women, a significant (p<0.05) increase in bone density was observed, with no differences among different groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Different progestins used in OC preparations do not modify the bone sparing effect of perimenopausal OC administration avoiding the decrease in bone density.
Gambacciani
Marco
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56100 Pisa, Italy. margamba@tin.it
Cappagli
Barbara
B
Lazzarini
Veronica
V
Ciaponi
Massimo
M
Fruzzetti
Franca
F
Genazzani
Andrea Riccardo
AR
D000328:Adult; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011372:Progestins / Q000008:administration & dosage
D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; D011372:Progestins; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol