title: Is the oral contraceptive pill associated with fracture in later life? New evidence from the Royal College of General Practitioners Oral Contraception Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several studies, including an earlier analysis from the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Oral Contraception Study, have suggested that ever users of oral contraceptives have an increased risk of fracture when compared with never users. In this paper, we examined a subset of women in the RCGP study living in Scotland to determine whether this risk has persisted.
  
  
  METHODS
  A nested case-control study was carried out using data collected prospectively for the RCGP Oral Contraception Study. Cases were women with a first ever diagnosis of fracture (n=651), age-matched to two controls (n=1302). Adjustments were made for smoking, social class and parity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was not a significant association between ever use of oral contraception and fracture (adjusted odds ratio 1.05, 95% confidence interval 0.86-1.29), compared with never users. Neither were significant associations found between fracture and smoking, social class and parity. The findings did not vary materially with age or type of fracture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ever use of oral contraception was not associated with fracture in this study.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Academic Primary Care, College of Life Sciences & Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill Health Centre, Aberdeen, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sanam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Memon
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Iversen
authors.forename: Philip C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Hannaford
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010298:Parity; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D012923:Social Class; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003276:Contraceptives, Oral