Effects of Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate on bone density and bone metabolism before and after peak bone mass: a case-control study.
BACKGROUND
Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA; Depo-Provera, Tadworth, UK) contraception is used by more than 9 million women worldwide and has a high usage among teenagers in the United Kingdom and the United States. Previous studies have found that DMPA use is associated with a bone density deficit.


OBJECTIVE
This case-control matched study aims to eliminate potential confounding factors, identify whether the effect of DMPA on the skeleton is age specific, and determine the effects of DMPA on hormones and bone turnover.


METHODS
We measured bone density, bone turnover, and hormones in individually matched case-control pairs of women: 50 pairs aged 18-25 yr and 50 pairs aged 35-45 yr.


RESULTS
DMPA use was associated with a 5% bone density deficit at the lumbar spine and hip in women who started DMPA use before age 20 yr but not after age 34 yr. Bone turnover was increased in DMPA users in both age groups. DMPA users had lower estradiol and higher IGF-I than controls, and younger DMPA users had higher dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate than controls. In a multiple regression model, estradiol and IGF-I were associated with bone turnover, but addition of DMPA to the model made the association with estradiol nonsignificant.


CONCLUSIONS
DMPA use is associated with a bone density deficit at the spine and hip when used before peak bone mass. DMPA acts on the skeleton mainly through estrogen deficiency.
Walsh
Jennifer S
JS
Academic Unit of Bone Metabolism, Sorby Wing, Northern General Hospital, Herries Road, Sheffield S5 7AU, United Kingdom. jenniferwalsh@doctors.org.uk
Eastell
Richard
R
Peel
Nicola F A
NF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D012044:Regression Analysis
D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D004958:Estradiol; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate